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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. What mountain does Rasheed point out to Mariam from the front window of his house in Chapter 9?

2. Who is the 18-year-old boy that Giti has become enamored with in Chapter 23?

3. What does "Shahr-e-Zohak" translate to in English?

4. What is the name of Laila's progressive but strict schoolteacher in Chapter 16?

5. In what year was Mariam born?

Short Essay Questions

1. What transition occurs with the beginning of Chapter 16? How are Laila and Tariq described in this chapter?

2. How has Mariam adjusted to married life by the beginning of Chapter 11?

3. How would you describe Mariam's relationship with each of her parents in Chapter 1?

4. How does the Afghanistan war against the Russians factor directly into Laila's storyline in Chapter 17?

5. How is Fariba's (Laila's mother's) daily behavior described in Chapter 17?

6. How does Nana respond when Mullah Faizullah suggests Mariam be educated in Chapter 3? Why?

7. How have Mariam's circumstances changed by the end of Chapter 5? What has caused Mariam's circumstances to change?

8. What political even does Laila's family witness in Chapter 22? What do they make of this affair?

9. What loss does Mariam suffer in Chapter 13? How does this loss affect her?

10. When does Chapter 24 take place? What are the circumstances around Laila's family at this time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of sacrifice in A Thousand Splendid Suns. In what ways does Mariam’s sacrifice give life and freedom to Laila and her children? Is Laila aware of the sacrifice that Mariam makes for her? What does Mariam’s act mean to Laila?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the arrival of the Taliban in Kabul and the establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and its laws. What requirements are men given in regard to their appearance? What requirements are given for women’s appearance under these laws? How were the daily lives of women in Kabul affected by these changes?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the setting of Kabul, Afghanistan, in the 1960s-1970s. How many people live in the capital? How divided is the wealth distribution in the city? How many citizens of Kabul were Muslim at this time? What other religions and cultures coexisted? How does this setting differ from Herat for Mariam?

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