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

Short Answer Questions

1. Asher requests to live with which character while Aryeh and Rivkeh are in Europe?

2. Asher Lev introduces himself as being the painter of which great painting?

3. What instrument does the Rebbe use to make a loud noise on Rosh Hashonoh?

4. Who killed Aryeh's father?

5. Which of the following publications does Aryeh NOT read?

Short Essay Questions

1. Out of a deep longing to learn to use oil paints, Asher steals several tubes of oil paint and several brushes from Yudel Krinsky's store. What does he do with them? Why do you think he does this?

2. Where does the Lev family spend their summers? What do they do there?

3. What happened to Yudel Krinsky in Russia? Describe some of his life before coming to the United States.

4. How does Aryeh react to the Rebbe's decision to allow Asher to study under Jacob Kahn?

5. When Asher first meets Jacob Kahn, what advice does Jacob give him concerning becoming an artist?

6. Yudel Krinsky mentions several differences between Russia and the United States. What is one difference?

7. How does Rivkeh react to the drawings Asher creates as a toddler?

8. The scene when Asher meets Yudel Krinsky for the first time becomes a very important subject for Asher's art. What is Yudel Krinsky doing at the moment of meeting Asher? How does he act?

9. What does Asher know about his paternal grandfather?

10. Why does Asher ask Yudel Krinsky questions about Russia?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Asher hears about the conditions in which Russian Jews are living, he feels the need to ask Yudel Krinsky many questions about Siberia. The answers to these questions contribute to Asher's growing fear of leaving his Brooklyn street. Write an essay that describes what is happening in Russia and Siberia during the time of this novel, including as many of the novel's details as you can remember, and compare and contrast the characters' reaction to those evens. For example, how does Aryeh's reaction differ from Asher's? With whose opinion do you most sympathize?

Essay Topic 2

Aryeh Lev risks his health and at times his life to help bring Russian Jews to safety, even though Rivkeh and Asher worry about him intensely. Do you think Aryeh makes a wise decision to travel abroad for the Rebbe, or do you think he would have been wiser to stay in Brooklyn? Write your idea of what might have happened if Aryeh had stayed in Brooklyn during Asher's artistically formative years.

Essay Topic 3

The book does not directly address Asher's love life, but it does offer hints, such as Asher's mention of "greetings" with a girl in Paris. In the Ladover community, marriages are arranged through families, although the bride and groom may also offer their consent. Describe Rivkeh's talking to Asher about the possibility of finding a wife. How does Asher handle this discussion? How do you think Asher would unite his duties to art with his duties to a potential wife and children? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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