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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 changes does Lalami say began to take place at the borders after 2006 while more border fence was built?

2. What did talk show host Bill Maher say on his show that resulted in advertisers pulling their ads?

3. After a steel fence was built at the California-Mexico border the number of illegal crossings declined, while the number of what increased?

4. In what year did Morocco gain its independence?

5. What did someone ask Lalami via email after her first book was published?

Short Essay Questions

1. What difference does Lalami note between Obama and Trump regarding their allegiance to America?

2. Under what administration was Operation Hold the Line implemented? How successful was it?

3. While reading from her novel The Moor's Account, what questions do audience members ask?

4. What are some of the strict rules Lalami says she learned of her religion in the chapter "Faith"?

5. In what ways did Lalami's grandmother live a traditional Muslim life?

6. In "Borders," how many U.S. border checkpoints does Lalami learn are in the country? How many Americans live in border zones?

7. What interesting fact does Lalami note at the 5 freeway on the Canada border?

8. In "Faith," what does Lalami say about Muslim history in America? When did Muslim's first arrive? Why? How were they treated?

9. In "Faith," what background does Lalami provided about her mother's early life and adolescence?

10. What does Lalami say about the Melilla border in Morocco? How has it changed since she was a child? What does it aim to keep separate?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing Lalami's language style and word choice in Conditional Citizens. What are some words that stand out to you and why? What words are repeated? What words are most impactful? Explain your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing Lalami's commentary on gender in both America and Morocco. What is the same and what is different regarding how women are treated? Use examples to support your analysis.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay examining the ending of Conditional Citizens. How did the ending fit into the narrative? Do you think the ending was effective? In what ways does the final chapter develop the theme of progress? What might the author have done differently?

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