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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. Why has the population of the narrator's neighborhood grown rapidly by 1950?

2. What does Professor Gordon look over at the Zechariah Frankel library?

3. What sects have inhabited the narrator's neighborhood?

4. What does Reuven decide to teach Michael?

5. Why can't Danny meet with Professor Gordon?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Reuven reveal in a flashback?

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

3. Describe Rav Kalman.

4. Who is Nota Finkel and for what is he noted?

5. Where do Michael and Reuven go the day after the fair, and what does Reuven teach Michael?

6. What does Reuven say about the Hasid?

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

8. How does Reuven work out a way to meet Professor Gordon?

9. What does Kalman discuss with Reuven after class concerning Professor Gordon?

10. Describe Reuven's visit with Danny.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Promise, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy (or at least optimistic) note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of The Promise and whether or not The Promise fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why The Promise is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In chapter 3, the narrator relates that Rav Kalman is a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp. Discuss the following:

1. Research and write a brief informative essay on the Nazi concentration camps of WWII. Why were they established? Who was sent to them? How many died there? How many survived? Offer your own thoughts about the concentration camps.

2. What sort of emotional and psychological damage do you think Rav Kalman could be suffering from as a result of having lived through the experience of a concentration camp?

3. Why do you think Rav Kalman came out of the camp with a still-firm faith in his God?

4. Do you think the concentration camp experience caused very many survivors to abandon their faith in God?

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Promise is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,186 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample