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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. For what transgression do the Nazis say they are taking Josef's father into "protective custody" (3)?

2. Who does not attend Josef's bar mitzvah, much to Josef's dismay?

3. Contrary to the truth, what does Ivan tell Isabel that he and his father are building in their garage?

4. What is the age difference between Isabel and Ivan?

5. When the narrative rejoins Josef in 1939, each member of the family is now wearing what item?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the author's purpose for characterizing the Nazis terrorizing Josef's family as "shadows"? (1)

2. How does Josef feel about invisibility?

3. What event is just about to happen when the motor of Isabel's family's boat splutters and dies?

4. How is Isabel's kitten used by the author to send a message about hunger and fear?

5. How does the author go about portraying Mahmoud as an empathetic soul?

6. What qualities of Senor Castillo's lead to his role as the leader on the boat?

7. How is the the ship Josef's family boards shown by the author to be paradoxical?

8. What does Mahmoud buy for his little brother Waleed at a shop in the Turkish refugee camp and what does he hope to achieve with his purchase?

9. Of everyone in Mahmoud's family, who comes the closest to losing his or her life when the apartment is hit by a missile?

10. What revelation does Lito make to Isabel about Miami, Florida, at one moment in the journey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the novel Refugee from an Existential perspective. What elements of life does it suggest hold the most meaning and why?

Essay Topic 2

Trace the characterization arc of one of the three major characters in the novel. Discuss whether your chosen character is a round or flat character and whether your chosen character is a static or dynamic character.

Essay Topic 3

What is the author's message regarding motherhood and what themes does the author employ in order to send these messages to the reader?

(see the answer keys)

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