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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 does Parveen beg Sahar to do when they meet outside the Mirdamad Surgical Center at the start of Chapter 15?

2. Why was Reza coming to Nasrin's house before they became engaged?

3. Who brings an injured Ali to Sahar and Baba's apartment in Chapter 16?

4. What does Sahar grind during the wedding ceremony in Chapter 1?

5. How long does Sahar learn she must undergo psych evaluations before being approved for sex reassignment surgery?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do we learn about Maryam in Chapter 14 when Parveen tells Sahar her story?

2. How does Parveen get rid of Reza in the doctor's office?

3. Where does Baba take Sahar the day Ali is to leave for Turkey? What happens there?

4. Why are Ali and Baba praying together at the start of Chapter 18? Why is this an usual sight for Sahar to see?

5. How does Jamshid and Parveen explain the process one must go through in order to get approved for sex reassignment surgery?

6. What are some of the traditions that are part of Nasrin's wedding?

7. What news does Nasrin share with Sahar at the end of the novel? How does Sahar feel about this? How do you know?

8. Why does Goli warn Sahar against getting hormones from a dealer as Behrooz tells her she can? What example does she offer?

9. Where does Nasrin bring Sahar in Chapter 17? Why is this place significant?

10. What is Sahar's impression of Reza after she gets to know him at the dinner party at the Medhi's?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What did you learn about homosexuality and transsexuals in Iran from reading If You Could Be Mine? In what ways are the rights of homosexuals similar or different in Iran and the United States? How does this new knowledge change your world view?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss elements of the narrative structure: Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

Essay Topic 3

Pick a character from the novel and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

(see the answer keys)

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