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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. After leaving Lista and drinking vodka, what do Grandfather, Alex, and Jonathan argue about?
(a) Where to go the next day.
(b) Whether or not they should open the box.
(c) What to talk about.
(d) What to eat.

2. In "Falling in Love," who does Alex think he has found?
(a) Lista.
(b) Jonathan's grandmother.
(c) Zosha.
(d) Augustine.

3. Why are the Gypsy girl and Safran unable to be together?
(a) Because of his arm.
(b) Because she is poor and he is rich.
(c) Because she is smart and he is not.
(d) Because she is a Gypsy and he is a Jew.

4. Where is Safran going when leaving his apparent lover?
(a) To the Dial.
(b) The flour mill.
(c) Home.
(d) Kolki.

5. How does Alex feel about the idea of cutting out the discussion of Jonathan's grandmother from the story?
(a) He refuses.
(b) He reluctantly agrees.
(c) He rewrites the section.
(d) He agrees whole heartedly.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens to the Kolker when he goes to work?

2. 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?

3. The old woman tells that when the Nazis came all the men were lined up and told to do what or their family would die?

4. What does Grandfather want to do with Alex's money?

5. What is written on Sofiowka's chest when he is found dead?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Is Jonathan a reliable narrator? Defend your response.

4. 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?

5. How does Alex feel about the truth in "Letter Dated 12 December 1997?"

6. Why do women fall in love with Safran?

7. "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.

8. 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?

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

10. Does the old woman in "Falling in Love" know Jonathan's grandfather? What does she tell Jonathan?

(see the answer keys)

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