View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the main topic of conversation when the family does speak?

2. What was Mrs. Patimkin's connection to sports when she was younger?

3. When Neil says the Patimkins do not live over their store, what does Aunt Gladys say?

4. When does Neil call Brenda for the second time?

5. When Neil finds the boy later, what is he doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the image the reader gets of Ron as he joins Neil and Brenda at the pool?

2. Besides his week at Brenda's house, what else does Neil have to look forward to?

3. Early in the story what gives Neil away as a consummate romantic?

4. Explain the social and economic difference between Brenda and Neil.

5. Explain the prejudice of the head librarian against the boy.

6. Tell how the relationship has developed between Neil and the boy who comes to look at the Gauguin book.

7. How does Neil feel sitting at the table with the Patimkin family?

8. Explain a commonality between Neil and the boy.

9. Why is Neil not conscious of class distinctions?

10. How does the reader know that Neil is restless and bored babysitting Julie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper about a Jewish wedding ceremony. For those who are not Jewish, there is plenty of material to research. Write specifically about the symbolism that takes place during the ceremony.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze Aunt Gladys in a paper that discusses her attitude toward the Patimkins who no longer live above their store. Explain whether you think she might have a different perspective if Uncle Max had become wealthy like Mr. Patimkin.

Essay Topic 3

How well do you think Roth depicts Mrs. Patimkin? Is she three dimensional in the book? Why is her first name never mentioned?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 701 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample