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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 Layla say rebellions are based on?

2. What role does Jake say Congress is playing in the restrictions on Muslims?

3. What does the Director offer Layla as an enticement?

4. What does Khadijah auntie compare Layla to at morning roll call?

5. What excuse does Jake give for Layla being in the Mess when the Director catches them there?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Layla answer the harassment she faces from Saleem and Fauzi and the others on her block, at morning check-in?

2. Where is Layla interrogated again, after the interview in the Director’s office?

3. What is the first act of open defiance that takes place in the camp?

4. What are the factors that are leading the camp to a more confrontational footing?

5. What does the Director weaponize in his second meeting with Layla in his office?

6. What are the new rules that apply to camp Mobius after the fast protest at the Mess?

7. What does Samira Ahmed say makes her angry in the Author’s Note, and what does she say gives her hope?

8. How does Layla’s first article change life at camp Mobius?

9. How does Fred save Layla from the Director during this second interview?

10. What circumstances lead to Soheil’s death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does this book tell us about what it means to be American? What are the different views about Americanness? What does Americanness mean for the characters, and how does it inspire them?

Essay Topic 2

What is the role of Islam in Ahmed’s novel? What does it mean to different parties? What are the different types of Islam she shows us, and how do the differences affect (or not affect) the characters?

Essay Topic 3

In a personal essay, describe how this book affected you. Which parts resonated strongest with you? Which parts left you flat? How did this book change you, or give you a new opinion or experience?

(see the answer keys)

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