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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 Mernissi's father organize a crusade against in "American Cigarettes"?

2. Why did Mernissi's father run away from her mother in fear in the final chapter of the book?

3. What did Samir and Malika plan to analyze when they went up to the forbidden terrace?

4. What is ghassoul?

5. Whose words are the last to be spoken in the book?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Aunt Habiba's rule for the children who attended Sidi Belal's dance?

2. Describe Mina's physical appearance.

3. Why was Samir thrown out of the women's hamman?

4. What did the big bird design Aunt Habiba was stitching symbolize to her?

5. What did Mernissi like about the way Mina danced?

6. Why did the women of the harem attend Sidi Belal's possession dance in secret?

7. How did Mernissi's mother tame her daughter's unruly hair?

8. Why did the women of the harem believe that they had to look as ugly as possible during their beauty rituals?

9. Why did Aunt Habiba visit the forbidden terrace?

10. Why did Mernissi like to hide in olive jars?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Thor and Yasmina's relationship. Why did Yasmina dislike Thor? What did she do that angered Thor? How did Yasmina resolve the conflict?

Essay Topic 2

Compare the quality of life for women in the harems in Fez and on Grandfather Tazi's farm. Who seemed to have more freedom?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how Mernissi's life changed once institutions for educating girls were approved. What did she like about the nationalist school she transferred to? How did going to this school improve her life?

(see the answer keys)

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