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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. At the end of "The Dial, 1941-1804-1941," Brod tells Kolker that she loves him and "for the first time in her life, the words had meaning" (139). Why do the words have meaning now?
(a) The Kolker has given her perfume.
(b) The Kolker is dying.
(c) The Kolker has given her a baby.
(d) The Kolker told her the truth about her father.

2. Who has a ticket for the same seat at the theater as Safran?
(a) Lista P.
(b) Rose.
(c) The Gypsy girl.
(d) Zosha.

3. Who is the old woman?
(a) Lista.
(b) Augustine.
(c) Zosha.
(d) The Gypsy.

4. What is the relationship between "The Dial" and Safran?
(a) The Dial is a tradition and nothing else.
(b) The Dial is Safran's father.
(c) The Dial is Safran's great-great-great grandfather.
(d) The Dial is Safran's good luck charm.

5. What does Alex think the limp arm symbolizes?
(a) Strength.
(b) Life.
(c) Weakness.
(d) Death.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens to the Gypsy girl after Safran gets married?

2. Where is Safran going when leaving his apparent lover?

3. Who did Grandfather "murder?"

4. The old woman who knows about Trachimbrod also knew Jonathan's grandfather, Safran. What does she ask Alex to tell Jonathan?

5. After leaving Lista and drinking vodka, what do Grandfather, Alex, and Jonathan argue about?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do women fall in love with Safran?

2. Why does Alex lie about his sex life?

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

4. How does Safran's teeth effect his life? What might have been different if he had not been born with teeth?

5. "Letter Dated 17 November 1997" revolves around the theme of forgiveness. Give at least one example of who needs to be granted forgiveness and the reason.

6. What is the relationship between Safran in 1941, Brod in 1804, and the Dial.

7. Alex asks Jonathan to finish writing the chapter "An Overture to Illumination." Why? Does Jonathan do it? How can you tell?

8. Safran muses "the more you love someone . . . the harder it is to tell them" (234). What is he referencing? Is this true? Why?

9. 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?

10. 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?

(see the answer keys)

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