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

2. What gift does Tariq give to Laila in a paper bag during his visit in Chapter 44?

3. Who summons a mullah for Tariq and Laila's wedding in Chapter 48?

4. Who brings Mariam, Laila, and Aziza home after their failed attempt to run away in Chapter 36?

5. Why do Rasheed and Laila argue about the baby's clothes in Chapter 33?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Laila attempt to repay Mariam for her sacrifice in Chapter 50?

3. What leads to the capture or Mariam and Laila in Chapter 36?

4. In Chapter 49, Laila and Tariq have their first argument as a married couple. What do they argue about?

5. How does Laila respond when she determines that she is pregnant in Chapter 38?

6. How are the conditions described when Laila gives birth in Chapter 39? Where does Laila give birth?

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

8. How are the themes of suffering and grief illustrated in Chapter 28?

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

10. How would you describe Laila's greatest struggle in Chapter 42? How does Laila's suffering influence your opinion of her character?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss marriage customs within Muslim society and girls’ education in Afghanistan in the 1960s and 1970s. Jalil has three wives in the novel. How common is it for Muslim men to have more than one wife? What customs surround marriage and courtship in Afghanistan, particularly in the 1960s?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the character of Mariam as one of the two protagonists in A Thousand Splendid Suns. How old is Mariam when she is introduced? What is Mariam’s relationship like with each of her parents? Whom is Mariam closest to? Why?

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