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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. Why is the son afraid that his father is dead in "If You Were a Horse"?

2. In "The Land of Sad Oranges," when does the narrator return to the house?

3. In "If You Were a Horse," what did the horse do?

4. In "The Land of Sad Oranges," what does the father do when he is set off?

5. In "If You Were a Horse," what does the echo of the footsteps of the son resemble?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the orange look like at the end of "The Land of Sad Oranges," and what does it represent at the end?

2. What is ironic about Abul Khaizarun confirming the bad reputation of smugglers?

3. Why is Abul Khaizarun not married?

4. In "The Land of Sad Oranges," how does the army affect the father's mental state in two extremes?

5. Who are the antagonists in "The Land of Sad Oranges," and why?

6. What is ironic about the conversation Abul Khaizarun has with a man in the customs office?

7. Why does the father resent Abu Muhammad?

8. Why is Abul Khaizarun delayed when he passes through customs?

9. Why did Marwan's father leave Marwan's mother?

10. Why are the kids sent to the hills so often in "The Land of Sad Oranges"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The themes of courage and cowardice are prominent in "Letter from Gaza." How does cowardice play a role in the story? How does courage play a role in the story? Which display is strongest--the cowardice or the courage, and with whom? Remember to answer each question with specific examples from the story.

Essay Topic 2

The theme of innocence is prominent in "The Land of the Sad Oranges," and the narrator addresses it specifically. Describe the children at the beginning of the story. How do they change by the end? What happens to their innocence? Remember to answer each question thoroughly with specific examples from the story.

Essay Topic 3

Umm Saad goes through many feelings during the story as she tells her cousin about her son. What emotional turns does Umm Saad take when telling the story to her cousin, and what causes these emotional turns? How does she recover from each turn, and what does she console herself with? Remember to answer each question with evidence from the story.

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This section contains 712 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample