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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. Why does Laila agree to marry Rasheed?

2. What leader has been killed in the beginning of Chapter 49?

3. What film is recorded on the video tape that Jalil left behind for Mariam?

4. What is the name of the man that buys the bus tickets for Laila in Chapter 36?

5. How much money does Laila hope to steal from Rasheed before she runs away in Chapter 34?

Short Essay Questions

1. What choice does Laila face in Chapter 29? What circumstances dictate Laila's decision?

2. What decision has Laila reached in Chapter 49, and what has led her to this decision?

3. How do the conflicts between Laila and Mariam develop in Chapter 32?

4. What symbolism and metaphors are explored through the death of Rasheed in Chapter 45?

5. What major political events are detailed in Chapter 49? What are Laila's thoughts on these events?

6. How are the themes of virtue and survivalism explored in Chapter 30?

7. What are the consequences of Mariam's and Laila's capture in Chapter 36?

8. What leads to the development of friendship between Laila and Mariam in Chapter 33?

9. What is the greatest conflict that Laila faces in Chapter 31?

10. Why does Mariam attempt contacting Jalil in Chapter 41? What does she discover?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the characters of Laila and Hakim in the novel. How does Laila’s relationship with her father differ from Mariam’s? How do Laila’s overall circumstances differ? What is Hakim’s profession? How would you describe Hakim’s relationship with his wife?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the themes of hope, history, and love in A Thousand Splendid Suns. What symbolism supports these themes in the narrative? How does the novel’s title connect to these themes? How do these themes relate to one another?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the themes of grief and war in A Thousand Splendid Suns. How are these themes illustrated symbolically in the novel? How do the women and men in the narrative express their grief differently? How are war and grief intertwined for the characters in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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