View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who wins the second lottery?
(a) Brod.
(b) Chana.
(c) Sofiowka.
(d) Yankel.

2. According to Alex, why does Sammy Davis, Junior, Junior like Jonathan so much?
(a) She likes his eyes.
(b) She likes his voice.
(c) She likes his story.
(d) She likes his cologne.

3. In "The Very Rigid Search," what does Alex say that makes the old woman admit she knows about Trachimbrod?
(a) "Have you ever witnessed anyone in the photograph?"
(b) "Have you ever heard of a town dubbed Sofiowka?"
(c) "Leniency, I do not want to pester you."
(d) "Has anyone in this photograph ever witnessed you?"

4. What is Grandfather hired to do?
(a) Park cars.
(b) Drive the car.
(c) Translate.
(d) Cook.

5. Where does Grandfather suggest Jonathan go to fall in love?
(a) Kolki.
(b) Miami.
(c) Odessa.
(d) New York.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does the Tolerable Rabbi call the winner "Kolker"?

2. What does Yankel have in his hands when he dies?

3. Who said "We must go backward in order to go forward" (37)?

4. Who is Little Igor?

5. In "The Beginning of the World Often Comes," who finds debris in the river?

Short Essay Questions

1. Yankel lies to Brod. What does he lie about? Why does he lie? What do you think about his lies?

2. Is Sofiowka a reliable character? How do you know? Give details from the story.

3. Alex tells Jonathan that he "did not amputate Sammy Davis, Junior, Junior from the story" (55) despite Jonathan's request that he do so. Why would Jonathan not want SDJJ in the story? Why does Alex keep her?

4. Foer writes that Brod could "never be happy and honest at the same time" (79). What does this mean? Give examples from the text.

5. In "Another Lottery, 1791," the town again makes a decision based on a lottery. Describe the two lotteries. What does this seem to suggest about the town?

6. Describe Yankel's internal and external characteristics.

7. When Alex first meets Jonathan, he is "flabbergasted by his appearance" (31). Why?

8. Describe the lottery drawn in "The Lottery, 1791." What do you think of the "lottery"? Explain your reasoning.

9. Why does Alex agree to go to Lutsk? Use the book to aid in your response.

10. What clues tell the reader that Brod is having a vision of the future in "Recurrent Secrets, 1791-1943"?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,238 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample