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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. Who was the philanthropist that Ziauddin got to pay for him to produce leaflets about educating the poor in Chapter 6: “Children of the Rubbish Mountain”?

2. What was the name of Ziauddin's older brother who worked for years as a teacher at a local school in the village in Chapter 3: “Growing Up in a School”?

3. What Shakespearean play did Malala write a sketch about based on corruption in Chapter 11: “The Clever Class”?

4. What was the name of the school that Ziauddin founded?

5. What does the word "sabar" mean, as described in Chapter 7: “The Mufti Who Tried to Close Our School”?

Short Essay Questions

1. What gifts did Malala's family bring to the villagers in Chapter 4: “The Village”? Why?

2. How does Malala describe the arrival of the Taliban in her village in Chapter 9: “Radio Mullah”? How old was Malala when the Taliban arrived?

3. What is one example of a contradiction in Malala's descriptions of herself in the autobiography?

4. How were girls' schools impacted by the spread of the Taliban in 2008-2009, according to Malala in Chapter 11: “The Clever Class”?

5. What is a "mufti"? Who was the mufti that attempted to cross Ziauddin in Chapter 7: “The Mufti Who Tried to Close Our School”?

6. What is the story that Malala relates of Shabana in Chapter 12: “The Bloody Square”?

7. What led Malala to begin stealing her childhood friend's toys in Chapter 5 : “Why I Don’t Wear Earrings and Pashtuns Don’t Say Thank You”?

8. How does Malala describe her relationship with her rural cousins in Chapter 4: “The Village”?

9. How does Malala describe her first impressions of the Taliban members that began appearing in her village in Chapter 9: “Radio Mullah”?

10. How did the arrival of the Taliban impact barbers and beauticians in Chapter 9: “Radio Mullah”? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the changes in Pakistan during the years under General Zia’s rule. How did Zia’s rule change the role of women in society? How did the citizens of the country react to Zia’s new laws and regulations? What role did General Zia play in the Soviet War in Afghanistan?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss Ziauddin’s childhood and family. Where was Ziauddin born? How was the culture of this area described at this time? Where was Ziauddin educated? What was Ziauddin’s relationship like with his parents? How many siblings did he have?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and its fallout. When did the earthquake occur and where was its epicenter? How many people were killed as a result of the earthquake? What was the global response to the devastation in Pakistan? How did militant groups use the situation to their benefit? What efforts were made to prevent this situation?

(see the answer keys)

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