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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 last sentence of Chapter 17, Amal notes that "Sometimes one act of kindness is all it takes to give you" what "again" (161)?

2. What two words does the elderly woman apply to the tool she accuses the bus driver of using to bother his passengers?

3. Which teacher grabs the note being passed back and forth between Amal and Adam?

4. Which two methods of communication do Adam and Amal use to talk to one another over midterm break?

5. What type of fruit do Amal and Jamila put inside the biscuits that they bake for Mrs. Vaselli in Chapter 23?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does Adam's revelation about his mother's departure surprise Amal in Chapter 25?

2. What excuses does Amal make in an attempt to deflect her mother Jamila's request that she deliver a birthday present to Mrs. Vaselli?

3. In what way does Simone demonstrate a sizable shift in her confidence level in Chapter 19?

4. What is the major obstacle standing in the way of the plan Yasmeen and Amal devise to celebrate Leila's 17th birthday?

5. To what event does Adam invite Amal in Chapter 27 and what lie does she tell to get her mother Jamila to let her attend?

6. For what reason is Leila excluded from a great deal of Amal's sleepover in Chapter 16?

7. What method does Amal use to rebalance her friendship with Adam in Chapter 33?

8. What does Lara do to ameliorate the hurt she causes Amal by asking her to give a speech about Muslims and terrorism?

9. Describe the lounge room at the home of Aunt Mandy and Uncle Joe.

10. Describe the circumstances around the departure of Adam's biological mother at one point in his childhood.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze Abdel-Fattah's novel from an Existential perspective. What elements of life does it suggest hold the most meaning and what textual elements are used in order to send this message?

Essay Topic 2

Perform a biographical criticism of Does My Head Look Big in This? by researching Abdel-Fattah's life and work. Be sure to create a strong and specific claim focused on this particular book and then support that claim with quotes from the book and from your research of Abdel-Fattah.

Essay Topic 3

What ultimate message is Abdel-Fattah sending about the nature and value of compassion and how is Mrs. Vaselli's character used to provide nuance to the novel's messages about compassion?

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