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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. In the comment that “for a beautiful, poetic language, it sounded as harsh as Klingon when they fought” (79), which of the following is the antecedent to the pronoun “it”?

2. The word “mamou” carries which of the following meanings in the novel?

3. The word “chador” means which of the following, per the novel?

4. What color are the “truck nuts” left with Darius’s bicycle?

5. What does Darius report Stephen regards as the best trick-or-treat candy?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Darius relate his mother’s early misunderstanding of taarof with his father’s parents?

2. Darius considers shouting at the second customs officer he encounters in Iran. What does he consider shouting, and why does he refrain from doing so?

3. What games are included in Darius’s “net sports” unit?

4. What activities does Darius report undertaking with Laleh that he does not disclose to others?

5. Why does Darius consider Javaneh brave?

6. What is Surrender Cobra?

7. In what condition do the Bahramis and Kellners find Persepolis?

8. What was the game of Turbolift Door Darius used to play, and why did he stop playing it?

9. What does Darius identify as the two most humiliating moments in his life?

10. What is Ardeshir doing when Darius first sees him in Iran?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Near the end of “The Best of Both Worlds,” the narrator notes that he nearly refused to play soccer,

“But that’s what Darius would have done.

“Darioush would have tried out.

“I thought about telling Sohrab that I had made the team. And sending him photos of me in my kit. And him squinting and congratulating me.

“I thought about having fun on the field, like I did with him and Asghar and even Ali-Reza and Hossein.

“‘Maybe I will,’ I said. ‘Maybe I will’” (306-07).

Which persona does the narrator ultimately adopt, Darius or Darioush? What in the novel suggests as much? How does it do so?

Essay Topic 2

Consider the following exchange between Stephen and Darius:

“It’s my hair, Dad,” I said. “Why is it such a big deal to you, anyway?”

“Because it’s ridiculous. Did you ever thing that you wouldn’t get picked on so much if you weren’t so…”

Dad worked his jaw back and forth.

“So what, Dad”

But he didn’t answer.

What could he possibly say? (42-43)

What was Stephen about to say, but refrained from saying? What in the novel and in experience affirms that answer? How does it do so?

Essay Topic 3

Darius remarks (191) that “He [Stephen] told me people wouldn’t pick on me so much if I was more normal. What does that even mean?” What is “normal” in this context? How do you know? Is Stephen’s comment accurate? Why or why not, per the novel and experience?

(see the answer keys)

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