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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 Abbas say that falling in love has done for him?

2. What does Kirsha believe is replacing public recitations?

3. Why is Kirsha poor?

4. What does Abbas say is everything in life?

5. What does Hussain Kirsha hope Hitler will do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why has Salim Alwan decided to take a second wife?

2. When Kirsha shows anger toward Sheikh Darwish, he appeals to Zainab. Who is she and why does Sheikh Darwish pray to her?

3. How did Hamida feel when she was in Ibrahim Faraj's house?

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

5. Why does Radwan Hussainy feel guilty for the wrongdoing of Dr. Booshy and Zaita?

6. How does Radwan Hussainy feel about boredom?

7. How does Hamida feel about questions of morality?

8. Why does Ibrahim Faraj refrain from having sex with Hamida?

9. How do Hamida and her friends feel about the Jewish girls that work in Cairo?

10. When Mrs. Kirsha appeals to Radwan Hussainy for help, for whom does Radwan Hussainy pray first?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Midaq Alley is set in a time of great cultural upheaval and change. What changes take place in the culture of the alley during the course of this story? Do you see generational differences between characters of different ages? Use examples from the text in your analysis.

Essay Topic 2

Determine what the main theme of Midaq Alley is, and support your answer with evidence from the book. Where is this theme seen in the book? How is it exemplified? Who does it affect? What role does it have in the plot?

Essay Topic 3

There is often a difference between what a character says and what we are told the character actually thinks. Analyze at least two circumstances in which this is true. Discuss probable reasons why the characters do not speak frankly to one another.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 604 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample