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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. Two months later, what does Zvi begin to do?

2. What does Bernard tell Leo Isaac found with a photo of Leo and Alma?

3. Who had Leo sent excerpts to in America?

4. About what does Alma read?

5. As the two walk, what does Misha tell Alma some people think?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is known about Alma's parents' marriage?

2. What does Bird tell Alma about the lamed vovniks?

3. What does Leo do after his heart attack?

4. What does Alma do when she realizes the Alma in the book must have been real?

5. Why is Emanuel Chaim known as Bird? What else is unique about Emanuel?

6. What does Zvi do the next, after staying with his friend? Why does he do this?

7. What takes place in the book that seems to coincide with his life?

8. How does Alma first begin her search for Alma Mereminski? What is the result of this search?

9. How do Charlotte and Alma deal with David's death?

10. Who does Leo find in his apartment when he returns from the library? What does this person say to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Zvi Litvinoff publishes Leo's book.

Part 1) Why does he publish Leo's book?

Part 2) How does Leo feel about this when he finds out? Why does he react this way?

Part 3) Why does Zvi add an extra chapter at the end of the book? What does this reveal about him?

Essay Topic 2

Alma Singer searches for Alma Mereminski.

Part 1) Why does she search for her?

Part 2) How does her quest for finding Alma Mereminski change her? Why is she changed?

Part 3) What is the connection between her search and the events that take place in Leo Gursky's life?

Essay Topic 3

Leo becomes famous for loving one woman all his life and writing about it.

Part 1) How does this statement support one or more of the themes?

Part 2) Why has he only loved one woman? What message does this send to the reader?

Part 3) How is this idea of loving one individual echoed throughout this story? What is the purpose of this?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 978 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample