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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When the old woman's father had the gun pointed at him and was told to do something or die, what did he do?
(a) He did as he was told.
(b) He refused.
(c) He cursed them.
(d) He laughed.

2. The old woman who knows about Trachimbrod also knew Jonathan's grandfather, Safran. What does she ask Alex to tell Jonathan?
(a) Safran loved her.
(b) She received her first kiss from Safran.
(c) Safran hated her.
(d) She was supposed to marry Safran.

3. Who says "I am a good person who has lived in a bad time" (227)?
(a) Alex.
(b) Grandfather.
(c) Lista.
(d) Jonathan.

4. Why does Alex lie to his brother?
(a) He wants his father to be proud of him.
(b) He wants his brother to be happy.
(c) He wants his brother to be better than him.
(d) He wants his brother to admire him.

5. According to the old woman, what does Trachimbrod look like now?
(a) It is crumbling.
(b) It looks like any other field.
(c) It has been rebuilt and doesn't look at all like it did before.
(d) It is empty.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do Grandfather, Alex, and Jonathan have for dinner after they leave Lista?

2. Who is the bridegroom that the men are waiting for in "The Dial, 1941-1804-1941"?

3. Who did Grandfather "murder?"

4. What is the result of Kolker's injuries?

5. Why are the Gypsy girl and Safran unable to be together?

Short Essay Questions

1. With everything that has happened to Jonathan, Alex, and Grandfather, even Grandfather goes through some significant changes. In "An Overture to Illumination," Grandfather makes the waitress apologize to Jonathan. Why? What is different about Grandfather? How and why has he changed?

2. In "Falling in Love," what does "Augustine" look like?

3. Why does Grandfather ask Alex for money and what does Alex say in return? Will Alex give him the money?

4. What does Jonathan tell Alex about his grandmother while waiting for Grandfather and the old woman? What do Jonathan and his grandmother have in common?

5. Safran does not consummate his relationship until his wedding night. What does this suggest about his relationships with other women?

6. What is odd about Zosha's family home?

7. After reading "What We Saw When We Saw Trachimbrod, or Falling in Love," the reader might suspect that Lista was a character in her own story. Who might she be? How do you know? Why do this?

8. Why do women fall in love with Safran?

9. Although the novel does not say it directly, based on what is written in the Book of Antecedents, what can we assume Brod asked the Kolker to do? Why would she ask this?

10. Alex has changed throughout the novel. Identify how he has changed by the time he writes "Letter Dated 24 December 1997." What do you think brought about the change?

(see the answer keys)

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