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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 does Reuven decide to teach Michael?

2. Where does Reuven encounter Professor Gordon?

3. Why are Rachel and Reuven nervous about what Michael is doing?

4. What is one thing that is established in the narrator's neighborhood as it becomes more populous?

5. How is Michael doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. When does Michael get a nosebleed at the fair, and what do Reuven and Rachel do?

2. Describe the game which Michael is playing and which is making Reuven and Rachel nervous for him.

3. What do Reuven and Professor Gordon discuss about Michael?

4. How does Danny's father raise Danny?

5. Describe the elderly man who is the father of the booth attendant at the dice game.

6. What does Michael tell Reuven about Michael's nosebleeds?

7. What are the narrator's plans for his schooling and what were the influences on his choice?

8. Describe the neighborhood in which the narrator lives at the opening of the The Promise.

9. Who does Reuven encounter at the library and what is the person doing?

10. Describe Reuven and Michael's phone conversation.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in The Promise.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of The Promise. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of The Promiise. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

In The Promise, the most visible and important characters are male. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think novels more often have a male hero than a female one?

2. Do you believe Rachael is as capable (or more so) than Reuven or Daniel? Would the novel be as interesting to you if she were the one that was in a difficult position with Rav Kalman? Why or why not.

3. Do you think females (in the real world) are just as likely and capable as males to be heroes? Why or why not?

4. Would you rather read a book with a male or female hero or do you have a preference? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Michael hates orthodox Jews because he thinks they try to keep people from speaking the truth as the person sees it. Discuss one of the following:

1. Discuss and analyze the theme of truth in The Promise. Is there one truth? Many truths? Does any character have "the truth"?

2. Many wars have been fought over the concept of "the truth." Discuss one war that was waged over a difference in the perception of truth and what the core issue(s) was. Relate your research back to The Promise.

3. Thoroughly discucss one thing you think is absolutely true and then relate your beliefs in that truth to one character's beliefs about the truth in The Promise.

(see the answer keys)

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