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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 vow does Lester break on the day they go to the fish camp?

2. When Lester arrives at the house, what law does he tell Behrani he has broken?

3. What does HALT mean?

4. When Connie Walsh tells Kathy that Behrani is willing to sell the house, what important factor does she omit?

5. Why does Kathy call her brother Frank?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Esmail asks his father if they were rich in Iran, Behrani replies, "Yes and no, son." What do you think he meant?

2. Do you think Lester's advice to Kathy when he helps her after the eviction is correct?

3. How does the letter from Connie Walsh change the way Behrani is feeling?

4. How is Kathy like Behrani in her outlook on life?

5. Why does Kathy feel superior to the everyday people she sees on the street?

6. When Behrani visualizes their happy future in America, his imagination goes beyond reality. What does he visualize that will never be possible?

7. Why does Lester believe Behrani deserves to be punished by him?

8. What do you make of the fact that Kathy counts and itemizes all the kinds of alcohol in her client's house?

9. Why does Behrani regret that he will soon sell the house?

10. Why do you think Behrani has not been able to find work in the aerospace industry in spite of all his qualifications?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dubus has written a story with powerful themes. A theme is the author's main idea, or purpose in telling the tale. What do you believe Dubus is trying to teach us as his readers? Support your thesis with ideas or facts from the story.

Essay Topic 2

Main characters in this story reach a point where each feels that he is through with lies and deception. Analyze the importance of deception in this story. What does each of the men pretend to be that he is not? What do you think Dubus is trying to teach us about lies?

Essay Topic 3

Lester's past has a strong effect on actions he believes he must take now. What happens in his younger days that skews his view of the world now? What is he trying to prove and why does he feel he must prove something? Support your idea with quotations from the book.

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