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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 is Darius’s middle name?

2. Which of the following does Darius note is incorporated into Persian ice cream?

3. How long have Ardeshir and Fariba been married in the novel?

4. The term “ghormeh sabzi” carries which of the following meanings, per the novel?

5. With whom does Darius partner for his first game of Rook?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the three things Darius notes liking in Sohrab while walking with him and his family?

2. What is sky burial in the novel?

3. What is the irony of Darius complaining to Sohrab about Stephen?

4. Why, per Darius, is sumac served as an accompaniment to chelo kabob?

5. Why does Darius begin to get angry with Laleh as they leave Ashkan’s store?

6. Why, per Darius, is kabob koobideh “the most suspicious-looking” of Persian foods (259-60)?

7. Why does Darius end up feeling sorry for Ali-Reza?

8. What does Darius note wanting to learn from Simin, but which he is unable to ask after?

9. What mess does Darius note is left by the Bahrami Nowruz celebration?

10. What does Darius note that he likes best of all in Sohrab?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Darius introduces the concept of classifying things by “levels” early in the text. How does he determine levels? What in the text says so? How does it say so?

Essay Topic 3

At the end of “Chelo Kabob,” Stephen appears to reach an accord with his father- and brothers-in-law during a conversation about grilling (261). Why would the topic serve such a function? What in the novel and in experience indicates as much? How does it do so?

(see the answer keys)

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