“Letters From Rifka” by Karen Hesse (AIM’s Style of questions)

First entry in her diary

1. When Rifka writes, “my heart knocking against my ribs,” in her letter to cousin Tovah, it is an example of:

A. a simile

B. a metaphor

C. personification

D. onomatopoeia

2. What type of writing is the book, “Letters From Rifka?”

A. autobiography

B. historical fiction

C. mystery

D. myth

3. What is the main conflict in this first entry?

A. Rifka doesn’t get along with her brother Saul

B. Rifka doesn’t get along with her cousin Tovah

C. Rifka’s family has to hide from the soldiers.

D. Rifka’s family has to run from their neighbors.

4. Which of the following most influences the family’s decision to have Rifka distract the guards?

A. Rifka’s blond curls often stopped people in wonder.

B. Rifka was the youngest and so the least likely to be placed in jail.

C. Rifka volunteered.

D. Rifka was the bravest family member.

5. While talking with the guards, Rifka was:

A. happy

B. sad

C. scared and shy

D. scared and courageous

6. When Rifka writes, “Inside I twisted like a wrung rag, but on the outside I held still.” it is an example of:

A. personification

B. metaphor

C. alliteration

D. simile

7. All of the following would describe how Rifka feels during the events in the first letter EXCEPT:

A. Happy

B. Scared

C. Sad

D. Nervous

8. The line, “Mama is always saying my mouth is as big as the village well.” means:

A. Rifka is very quiet

B. Rifka talks a lot

C. Rifka’s mouth is her biggest facial feature

D. Rifka is always whispering

9. Rifka is writing to Tovah. Who is Tovah?

A. Her brother, who lives in America.

B. Her uncle, who lives in Canada.

C. Her grandmother, who lives in Berlin, Germany.

D. Her cousin, who lives in Berdichev, Russia.

10. The family is going on this journey for all the following reasons EXCEPT:

A. So Rifka’s brothers will not serve in the army.

B. So Rifka’s family will all be together again.

C. So Rifka’s mother can get the surgery she needs.

D. So the soldiers won’t hurt or kill Nathan for deserting.

11. Who helps Rifka with her job as the family is getting ready to go?

A. Nathan

B. Her papa

C. Uncle Avrum

D. Cousin Tovah

2 nd entry in her diary

1. The treatment of the doctor at the Polish border makes Rifka feel:

A. dirty

B. happy

C. worried

D. relieved

2. What is missing from Rifka’s rucksack when she gets it back?

A. her book

B. Mama’s candlesticks

C. their money

D. her clothes

3. Since Uncle Avrum’s family has money, all of the following are true EXCEPT:

A. They are treated better than the Jews without money.

B. They can travel around the country.

C. They aren’t bothered much by the Russians.

D. They are continually harassed by the Russians and aren’t allowed to travel anywhere.

4. What is the best summary of this entry?

A. Rifka writes to her cousin Tovah.

B. Rifka and her mom are examined by the doctor.

C. Rifka’s family is examined by the Polish doctor and fumigated for lice, then allowed to travel on to their next destination.

Rifka doesn’t like the Polish doctor

3 rd Entry

1. Which statement is a fact from this entry?

A. Saul doesn’t want to take care of Rifka.

B. Each member of Rifka’s family contracted typhus except Saul.

C. Rifka isn’t too thrilled that Saul is her nurse while she is sick.

D. Rifka isn’t too happy being left behind with Saul.

2. All of the following details support the idea that Rifka and Saul don’t get along very well EXCEPT:

A. “Saul, who never has a kind word for me.”

B. “Saul, who pulls my hair and punches me, even though Mama says at sixteen he should know better.”

C. “Saul, with his big ears and his big feet, was all I had for a nurse.”

D. “Saul says a student of medicine came to examine me.”

4 th Entry

1. All of the following describe the innkeeper’s daughter EXCEPT:

A. kind

B. thief

C. unkind

D. glutton

2. How is Rifka’s life different in Poland than in Russia?

A. In Poland, she is poor.

B. In Poland, she is taller.

C. In Poland, she is much more free to travel around and do things.

D. In Poland, she isn’t Jewish.

3. Rifka begins to learn ___________ when she visits her mother in the hospital.

A. Yiddish

B. Polish

C. English

D. German

5 th entry

1. According to the end of the passage, how does Rifka most likely feel about going to America?

A. Apprehensive, because there are so many trials to go through.

B. Sad because she had to leave her cousin Tovah.

C. Happy to see her older brothers.

D. Excited, but sad to leave her cousin and grandmother behind.

2. After reading about Rifka braiding the peasant girl’s hair we can infer that Rifka is:

A. an unfriendly person

B. a kind, compassionate person

C. an impatient person

D. a skilled beautician

3. What might happen to Rifka as a result of her braiding the girl’s hair?

A. She might start writing to the girl.

B. She might also get sores on her scalp.

C. She might see the girl in America.

D. She might end up staying at the girl’s home for a visit.

6 th Entry

1. At the steamship office, Rifka realizes that she got _____________ from the peasant girl.

◦ A. shingles

◦ B. ringworm

◦ C. measles

◦ D. polio

2. The line, “…and they prowl the streets like frenzied wolves.” means:

A. The cars were very noisy and fast

B. The cars were big and noisy

C. The wolves were going crazy.

D. The people were running around like crazy.

3. The guy at the fruit market:

A. was very kind and helpful to Rifka so she really liked Warsaw.

B. took advantage of Rifka’s ignorance of the language and money.

C. was a friendly person.

D. was simply doing his job.

7 th Entry

1. One of the HIAS workers arranges for Rifka to go to _______________ and live with a family while she gets treatment at a hospital for ringworm.

A. Antwerp, Belgium

B. Paris, France

C. Rome, Italy

D. Berlin, Germany

2. What is Rifka’s response to the worker’s suggestion?

A. She says it’s a good idea and she will go.

B. She says she will go but only for one month.

C. She says she will sneak on the boat and go with her parents.

D. She says she would rather go back to Berdichev.

3. Rifka agrees to go for treatment, but says she is like __________________.

A. a terminally ill patient

B. a helpless baby

C. an orphan

D. an old woman

4. When Rifka writes, “Tovah, I am like an orphan now.” it is an example of:

A. metaphor

B. alliteration

C. simile

D. personification

8 th Entry

1. Mama & Papa give Rifka a gold locket and a prayer shawl because:

A. She turned 13.

B. She had to go to Belgium alone.

C. She was having a mitzvah.

D. She was sad.

2. Why did Uncle Avrum not give Tovah piano lessons?

A. He couldn’t afford them.

B. He liked Hannah better.

C. Tovah’s spinal injuries would most likely prevent her from getting married later in life.

D. She wasn’t musically talented.

9 th Entry

1. The line, “He grinned—a grin so wide it was like the entrance to a tunnel.” most likely meant:

◦ A. He was a happy man.

◦ B. He just heard a funny joke.

◦ C. He was lost in a tunnel.

◦ D. He had a huge smile on his face.

2. Now that Rifka got lost on her trip around Antwerp, she will most likely;

◦ A. Spend her days in her room except for her treatments.

◦ B. Explore more of Antwerp since the milkman was so kind to her.

◦ C. Miss her family even more.

◦ D. Go out only when she absolutely has to go.

10 th Entry

1. What is the fruit that Rifka likes so well?

◦ A. orange

◦ B. apple

◦ C. banana

◦ D. kiwi

2. Rifka discovers ___________ and thinks they are wonderful.

A. ice cream and chocolate

B. pizza and soda

C. movies and popcorn

D. TV and radio

3. The word fumigations in this passage means:

◦ A. inflicted pain or discomfort

◦ B. a foul, disgusting smell

◦ C. action taken to protect against harm

◦ D. treatments to get rid of bugs or diseases

4. What is the best summary of this passage?

◦ A. Rifka misses her family.

◦ B. Rifka discovers Antwerp’s people and foods and decides that they are wonderful.

◦ C. Rifka’s family is missing her and writing letters.

◦ D. Rifka discovers the foods of Antwerp

5. In this passage the phrase, “It is like biting off a little corner of heaven…” is an example of:

◦ A. metaphor

◦ B. simile

◦ C. personification

◦ D. hyperbole

11 th Entry

1. In this passage, the word steerage means:

A. the act of steering a ship

B. the age of a steer

C. a section of inferior accommodations in a ship for passengers paying the least

D. a section of superior accommodations in a ship for passengers paying the most

2. In this passage we can infer that Rifka is:

A. worried about her lack of hair

B. scared about riding the ship

C. sad about leaving Belgium

D. glad about having no hair

3. In this passage, the word democratic means:

A. a government

B. intelligence, common sense

C. a favorable position

D. favoring social equality

4. From reading this passage we can infer that Rifka is:

A. a shy and awkward girl

B. an intrepid and clever girl

C. a silly and gregarious girl

D. a sad and lonely girl

5. According to this passage, her book of Pushkin is helping Rifka:

A. remember

B. forget

C. move forward

D. express her anger

12 th Entry

1. The phrase, “…and the ship skates over the surface.” is an example of:

A. metaphor

B. personification

C. simile

D. hyperbole

2. When Pieter calls Rifka “a treasure” he means:

A. She is worth a lot of money.

B. She is valuable and special.

C. She is rich.

D. She is going to have money one day.

3. In this passage, the word stammering means:

A. anger

B. not able to feel sensations

C. suffering; discomfort

D. speaking with many pauses & repetitions

4. In this passage, the word billowing means:

A. rolling or flowing upward

B. spreading from one person to another

C. a severe storm with strong winds & rain

D. an elegant room in a private home

5. After Pieter’s kiss, Rifka feels:

A. sadness

B. happiness & confusion

C. anger & confusion

D. happiness

13 th Entry

1. The mood that is mostly present in this passage is one of:

A. anger

B. despair

C. hope

D. confusion

2. The line, “The seas, which had seemed so gentle yesterday, rose like hungry beasts, mouths open, hovering and crashing over the sides of the ship.” means:

A. that the terrible storm was like a hurricane

B. that the beasts were like a terrible storm

C. that the terrible storm was like hungry beasts fighting

D. the storm sounded like thunder

3. The word plummeted in this line: “The ship plummeted from beneath me …” means:

A. rolling or flowing upward

B. not able to feel sensations

C. spread from one person to another

D. to drop sharply

4. In the line, “I descended into the ship’s hold, looking up once at my friend.” the word descended means:

A. to pass from a higher level to a lower level

B. to put something away for future use

C. to climb up higher

D. move around in a sneaky way

5. The word tempest in this passage means:

A. useful; helpful

B. a severe storm with strong winds and rain

C. a fight

D. anger

14 th Entry

1. Which of the following would be the best theme for this passage?

A. Crime doesn’t pay.

B. Slow and steady wins the race.

C. New adventures bring hope.

D. Friendship

2. The word notified in this passage means:

A. the act of giving or taking

B. to give notice or report

C. to originate

D. something written

3. In this passage, Rifka’s mood is:

A. sad

B. angry

C. anxious

D. depressed

15 th Entry

1. What type of conflict is Rifka facing in this entry?

A. Man versus Man

B. Man versus Society

C. Man versus Himself

D. Man versus Nature

2. In this passage, the best definition for detainees is :

A. poor immigrants

B. people being held for crimes committed

C. people from a different country

D. immigrants that aren’t welcome in America

3. In this passage, the word simpleton means:

A. a person with little education

B. a smart person

C. a person from a foreign country

D. a person that doesn’t speak the language

Answer Key

1 st Entry 10 TH Entry

1. C 1. A2. B 2. A3. C 3. D4. A 4. B5. D 5. B6. D 11 th Entry 7. A 1. C

8. B 2. A9. D 3. D10.C 4. B11.C 5. A

2 nd Entry 12 th Entry

1. A 1. B2. B 2. B3. D 3. D4. C 4. A

3 rd Entry 5. B

1. B 13 th Entry 2. D 1. B

4 th Entry 2. C

1. A 3. D2. C 4. A3. B 5. B

5 th Entry 14 th Entry

1. D 1. C2. B 2. B3. B 3. C

6 th Entry 15 th Entry

1. B 1. B2. A 2. D3. B 3. A

7 th Entry

1. A2. D

3. C4. C

8 th Entry

1. B2. C

9 th Entry

1. D2. B