Question

Which statement should not be included in a summary of “The First Seven Years” by Bernard Malamud?


Sobel escapes from the Nazis in World War II.


Sobel returns to work as Feld’s assistant.


Sobel hears Feld ask Max to date Miriam.


Sobel shares a love of reading with Miriam.

Answer 1

the story, if anyone needs it: https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Malamud_Seven_Years.pdf

Answer 2

In the story, the first and second page talks about what Sobel said about Mariam and Max. For Instance, " Just let him once see and talk to her and he would for
sure be interested. As for Miriam, what possible harm for a
working girl in an office, who met only loudmouthed salesmen
and illiterate shipping clerks, to make the acquaintance of a
fine scholarly boy? Maybe he would awaken in her a desire to
go to college; if not—the shoemaker’s mind at last came to
grips with the truth—let her marry an educated man and live a
better life."

Sobel is trying to set Mariam up with Max hoping she'd change her mind about college, even though she said she wanted to be independent and get a Job. So this makes C not an answer.

Answer 3

For Letter B: "Sobel returns to work as Feld’s assistant." In the story on page, 4 of 11 it states, "Though he confessed he knew nothing of shoemaking, he said
he was apt and would work for very little if Feld taught him
the trade. Thinking that with, after all, a landsman, he would
have less to fear than from a complete stranger, Feld took him
on and within six weeks the refugee rebuilt as good a shoe as
he, and not long thereafter expertly ran the business for the
thoroughly relieved shoemaker"

Which means it can not be Letter B Aka option 2 because, it clearly talks about him making him his assistant and later on running the business for himself.

Answer 4

Letter D (Fourth Option) In the story on page 5 of 11 It states, " when over some fancied slight—Feld had merely
asked him not to give Miriam so many books to read because
her eyes were strained and red—the assistant had left the place
in a huff, an incident which, as usual, came to nothing, for he
had returned after the shoemaker had talked to him, and taken
his seat at the bench."

In the end of page 4 and beginning of page 5 it talked about how he said Miriam reading and peaked over her shoulder and read page by page. When you read more into it Feld asked Sobel not to give Miriam more books because her eyes were becoming strained and red. Which Crosses out Letter D.

So the remaining letter we have is A. "Sobel escapes from the Nazis in World War II." Hope this helps! (: