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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. In "The Land of Sad Oranges," why does the father send the children to do a particular task every morning?

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

3. In "The Land of Sad Oranges," what kind of reaction does the object the mother hands to the father incite?

4. Why does it take Abul Khaizarun so long to get back to the lorry?

5. In "If You Were a Horse," where does the son find this object?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "If You Were a Horse," what does the black notebook reveal?

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

3. In "If You Were a Horse," why does the father refuse to allow his son to perform his surgery?

4. How is all the foreshadowing of death fulfilled in the end of "Men in the Sun"?

5. In "The Land of Sad Oranges," when a child requests something from his father, what happens?

6. What does the narrator's confusion about the father's money infer in "The Land of Sad Oranges"?

7. What does the relinquishing of the weapons at Ras Naquora foreshadow?

8. What does Abul Khaizarun compare the road from Basra to Kuwait as, and why is this ironic?

9. Why is Abul Khaizarun not married?

10. In "The Land of Sad Oranges," why does the father come up with the murderous idea?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Irony is a theme that runs throughout "Men in the Sun" in the form of some of the character's actions and some of their words or the situations they find themselves in. Name three specific instances of irony, and explain why they are ironic. Remember to answer each question thoroughly with evidence from the story.

Essay Topic 2

Despair is a theme that runs throughout some stories in Men in the Sun, but it especially runs throughout "The Land of the Sad Oranges." How is despair reflected in this story? How does each character feel and show despair? How did hope turn to despair in this story? Remember to answer each question thoroughly with evidence from the story.

Essay Topic 3

Symbolism is a device used in many literary pieces, including "A Hand in the Grave." What ideas or people most readily serve as symbols in the story? What symbols do you find surprising? Which symbol is the strongest? Remember to answer each question with evidence from the story.

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