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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. How does Zaita treat his clients?

2. What does Abbas say that falling in love has done for him?

3. Who is the only person in constant motion in the cafe?

4. What does Hamida believe is everything in life?

5. What trick does Abbas play on Uncle Kamil?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Hamida pleased when Abbas says that what she has done will always stand between them?

2. What does Jaada do that causes Husniya to beat him continually?

3. What is the difference between the way Abbas feels about Midaq Alley and the way Hussain Kirsha feels?

4. Why does Dr. Booshy suffer when he goes with Zaita to rob graves?

5. Why is Salim Alwan convinced that his employees are cheating him in spite of the fact that his careful auditing of the books shows no discrepancy?

6. What does Hamida mean when she quotes the saying to her foster mother, "It's always the carpenter's door that's falling apart?"

7. How did Hamida feel when she was in Ibrahim Faraj's house?

8. What has caused Sheikh Darwish to weep and how so loudly that all the alley can hear him?

9. Waiting for the boy with whom he has become acquainted, Kirsha suffers the "bitterness of victory." What is the bitterness of victory?

10. What does Radwan Hussainy say is half of worshiping?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The story ends as it began, with a description of the alley. Do you think that Mahfouz would agree with the statement, "The more things change, the more they remain the same?" Or would he agree with Sheikh Darwish's statement, "There's never a heart that doesn't change?" In your essay, take one side or the other and defend your position with facts from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Characters in the story face strong internal conflicts as well as external conflicts with people or circumstances. Select two characters who do battle inside themselves and analyze their conflicts.

Essay Topic 3

Consider the references to God in the story in terms of personal responsibility. Which characters seem to you to actually believe in God and try to conform their behavior to the teachings of the Qur'an? Are those that refer to God most the true believers? Discuss at least two characters in terms of their relation to deity, using examples from the text.

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This section contains 696 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample