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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 did the women's gardens consist of on Grandfather Tazi's farm?

2. What was unusual about the bracelets Tamou wore the day she arrived at the farm?

3. What kind of transportation did Mernissi's father and uncle use when she was a young child?

4. What did Yasmina like to do that caused Grandfather Tazi to think she was eccentric?

5. What year was Mernissi born?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Samir usually get his way with adults?

2. What worried Samir and Mernissi about Hitler?

3. How did the harem in the city differ from the one at Mernissi's grandfather's farm?

4. What did Mernissi like about Chama's theory about how the harem first got started?

5. Why did the women of the farm harem decide to wash the dishes in the river?

6. Describe Yasmina's appearance.

7. Why did Mernissi consider the French soldiers to be fearful of the citizens of Medina?

8. How does Mernissi describe the Germans?

9. Describe Aunt Habiba's room.

10. What part of communal life did Mernissi's mother hate the most?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the significance of beauty rituals in harem life. What did Aunt Habiba mean when she said "Skin is political"? In what way did the women's beauty rituals scare the men?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Chama's plays and their importance in the harem. How did they provide entertainment and knowledge? In what ways did the women discover hidden talents because of the plays?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Mina's role in Mernissi's life. What important lesson did Mina share with Mernissi? How did Mernissi test her physical and mental endurance so she could overcome fear as Mina had?

(see the answer keys)

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