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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. What is a book that the librarian finds by Leopold Gursky?

2. The next day, why does Alma head for the Municipal Archives?

3. What is unusual about Alma Mereminski's name?

4. What does this person tell Leo to do?

5. For how long does Alma's mother take to bed after David's death?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does David Singer get a copy of The History of Love?

2. What takes place that affects Misha and Alma's friendship?

3. What has Alma learned about Alma Mereminski? What does she believe is the connection between Mereminski and Litvinoff?

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

5. What does Leo notice about this copy of his book?

6. How does the reader learn most information about Zvi Litvinoff?

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

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

9. How does Leo feel right before he learns of his son's death?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Another theme is of personal histories of love.

Part 1) How is this a theme?

Part 2) What personal histories of love are described?

Part 3) What is the purpose for having these personal histories of love? How do these stories engage the reader?

Essay Topic 2

David Singer dies when Alma is six.

Part 1) How does he die? How does his death affect the family?

Part 2) Do the family members grieve in healthy ways? Why or why not?

Part 3) How does the grief of each family member affect the others in the family? How does it affect their relationships with others?

Essay Topic 3

Bird narrates two of the chapters.

Part 1) Describe these two chapters. Why is he the narrator of these two chapters?

Part 2) What is revealed about Bird through these two chapters? How does this affect your opinion of Bird?

Part 3) Why does the author have Alma, Leo, and Bird narrate this book? Why are no other characters also narrators?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 912 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample