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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happens to the original manuscript?
(a) It is left in Poland.
(b) It is thrown away.
(c) It is sent to Leo.
(d) It is lost when their home is flooded.

2. Where does an original copy wind up?
(a) In a secondhand bookstrore in Santiago.
(b) In a secondhand bookstore in New York.
(c) In a secondhand bookstore in Buenos Aires.
(d) In a secondhand bookstore in Poland.

3. Pained that he does not know his son in the same way, what does Leo do?
(a) He heads home.
(b) He wanders into the living room and falls asleep.
(c) He wanders into a bedroom and falls asleep.
(d) He wanders outside.

4. Why does Alma think that Mereminski came to New York?
(a) Litvinoff wrote about a woman who returned to New York.
(b) Litvinoff wrote about a string held by a woman who left for America.
(c) Litvinoff wrote about a woman who flew to New York.
(d) Litvinoff wrote about a string held by a woman who lives in Brooklyn.

5. What does Alma do when Bird asks about their father?
(a) She makes up several facts.
(b) She says nothing.
(c) She begins to cry.
(d) She tells him what she knows.

6. Why does Alma think that Mereminski and Litvinoff knew each other as children?
(a) The book contains stories about the two of them.
(b) The book contains stories about Alma Mereminski as a child.
(c) The book contains descriptions about Alma and Zvi in Poland.
(d) The book contains stories about Alma and Zvi in New York as children.

7. When Alma writes the letter to Jacob Marcus pretending to be Charlotte, who does she tell?
(a) Leo.
(b) Bird.
(c) Uncle Julian.
(d) Misha.

8. Why does Alma think Litvinoff did not give Alma Mereminski a Spanish name?
(a) Because he was in love with her.
(b) Because he loves the name Alma.
(c) Because he could not think of a better Spanish name.
(d) Because Alma is the only real character.

9. What makes Isaac stop as he leaves Starbucks?
(a) He sees Isaac's picture and a headline that says he has died.
(b) He finds a phone to call Bruno.
(c) He has to go home to get his wallet.
(d) He sees his picture in the paper.

10. What does Alma do when she locks herself in the bathroom?
(a) She wonders what she should do next about Jacob.
(b) She cries.
(c) She attempts to write another letter to Jacob but cannot get the words right.
(d) She prays.

11. What is unusual about Alma Mereminski's name?
(a) It is mentioned over one hundred times.
(b) All of the other names in the book are Polish.
(c) All of the other names in the book are Spanish.
(d) It is the only name in the book.

12. The next day, why does Alma head for the Municipal Archives?
(a) She is looking for information on Mereminski's death.
(b) She is going to a poetry reading.
(c) She is researching her family background.
(d) She is looking for a book.

13. What does Leo buy?
(a) A frame.
(b) A new hat.
(c) A new suit.
(d) A bouquet of flowers.

14. When Leo returns to his apartment, who does he find?
(a) Bruno.
(b) Bernard.
(c) Alma.
(d) Bird.

15. Who is Misha Shklovsky?
(a) The only boy Alma has ever kissed.
(b) Charlotte's last boyfriend.
(c) Leo's son.
(d) Alma's cousin.

Short Answer Questions

1. The girl tells the boy she was pregnant but never received a reply. When she assumed he was dead, what did she do?

2. Zvi was a journalist writing what?

3. Why is Emanuel Chaim known as Bird?

4. What does Leo notice about the names he originally used?

5. What does Zvi, when leaving, put in his pocket?

(see the answer keys)

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