The Assistant: Study Help: Quiz

1: The setting for The Assistant is

a. San Francisco, California.

b. Brooklyn, New York.

c. Florence, Italy.

d. the Diaspora.

2: How many hours a day does Morris Bober spend working in his grocery store?

a. 3

b. 8

c. 16

d. He works from home, and he pays someone to be on premises.

3: Who or what is the symbol of Morris Bober's faded hopes?

a. The three-cent roll he sells to the Polish woman each day

b. Sam Pearl, the candy store owner

c. Ephraim, his dead son

d. The gelt he doesn't have

4: Helen Bober regrets her casual lovemaking with

a. Nat Pearl.

b. Louis Karp.

c. Frank Alpine.

d. the mailman.

5: Nat Pearl's college education is financed through

a. scholarships.

b. his father's good luck at gambling.

c. the young man's part-time work at Morris Bober's grocery.

d. a bank robbery.

6: Ward Minogue beats Morris Bober during the holdup of Morris's grocery because

a. Morris tries to fight back with a knife.

b. Ward is in love with Helen Bober.

c. the robber doesn't believe the store owner has only $15 in his cash register.

d. he hears the police arriving.

7: Frank Alpine grew up in

a. a Catholic orphanage and in foster homes.

b. Louisville, where he lived on the streets.

c. a fancy Boston neighborhood.

8: Which character fails in his attempt to rape Helen in the park?

a. Nat

b. Ward

c. Frank

d. An unnamed passerby

9: Who is responsible for the burning of Julius Karp's liquor store?

a. Frank

b. A paid arsonist

c. Ida

d. Ward

10: How long does Morris survive after the robbery on his grocery?

a. 5 months

b. 2 weeks

c. 1-1/2 years

d. 1 day

11: Frank falls into Morris's grave because

a. he's grief and guilt stricken.

b. he leans in to see where Helen's rose has fallen.

c. he wants to steal the dead man's jewelry.

12: Helen's rejection of Frank begins to change when he

a. confesses his love for her.

b. threatens to leave town.

c. offers to send her to college full time.

d. promises to become Jewish.

13: What surgical procedure does Frank undergo in hopes of being pleasing to Helen?

a. Removal of warts on his arms and legs

b. Nose job

c. Circumcision

d. Gastric bypass

14: Who exchanges the following remarks: "Don't forget I'm Jewish." "So what?"

a. Helen and Frank

b. Nick and Tessie Fuso

c. Morris and Ida

d. Frank and Helen

15: Who says the following: "I gave my life for nothing."

a. Ward Minogue

b. Morris Bober

c. The Macher

d. Charlie Sobeloff

The Assistant By Bernard Malamud Study Help Quiz

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