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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. How does Hussain Kirsha feel about his father's erotic adventures?

2. Why do the residents of the alley think they've been suffering during the war?

3. Why does Mrs. Kirsha hesitate to confront Kirsha about his erotic adventures?

4. Why were Zaita's parents happy when he was born?

5. What does Salim Alwan's lunch do for him?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Kirsha react to the gossip about his homosexual adventures?

2. Why does Salim Alwan envy those who die of a heart attack?

3. As the story ends, what are the residents of the alley preparing to celebrate?

4. What does Radwan Hussainy promise Abbas will happen if he returns to work and forgets about Hamida?

5. What does Zaita say was the summer resort of his childhood?

6. Why is Salim Alwan convinced that his employees are cheating him in spite of the fact that his careful auditing of the books shows no discrepancy?

7. What relationship does the Kirsha family have to Hamida?

8. Why does Kirsha wish success to Hitler?

9. What is the difference between the way Abbas feels about Midaq Alley and the way Hussain Kirsha feels?

10. What conflicting emotions does Hamida feel for the stranger who keeps staring at her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mrs. Afify is superstitious. Describe her superstitions and the role they play in the plot.

Essay Topic 2

Characters in the story face strong internal conflicts as well as external conflicts with people or circumstances. Select two characters who do battle inside themselves and analyze their conflicts.

Essay Topic 3

Consider the references to God in the story in terms of personal responsibility. Which characters seem to you to actually believe in God and try to conform their behavior to the teachings of the Qur'an? Are those that refer to God most the true believers? Discuss at least two characters in terms of their relation to deity, using examples from the text.

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