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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 Zohra think about Tolba's request for a massage.

2. What does Hosny do as he speeds through the city?

3. Where does Amer visit that Sarhan appears?

4. Who is Tolba Marzuq?

5. What does Amer wish to trust again?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Tolba Marzuq relationship to Mariana, and what does Amer think of him?

2. About what does Amer warn Zohra and why does he do so?

3. How do Zohra and Amer have a chance to talk and how does Zohra feel about the two older, male boarders?

4. Describe the encounter between Zohra, Hosny and Sarhan.

5. Why does Hosny move to Miramar and what is his first thought about Zohra?

6. What is Hosny's next encounter with Zohra and how does he react?

7. With whom does Hosny hook up after leaving the Umm Kulthum at intermission, and what is the woman's advice to him?

8. How does Amer respond to the news that Zohra is taking reading lessons, and how do others respond?

9. What are Hosny's impressions of the other Miramar residents?

10. About what is Amer dreaming when he hears a ruckus in the hallway?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Discuss Hosny Allam's character as symbolic of the corruption that underlies Egyptian culture at that time.

2. After researching Egyptian history from 1940 to the present, do you think Zohra Salama will make it as a single female in Egyptian society? Discuss fully using examples from your research.

3. Compare/contrast the life and choices of Zohra Salama to that of Safeya Barakat. How are their backgrounds similar or dissimilar? Why do they each make the specific choices they make? Could Zohra end up like Safeya? Why or why not? Is redemption possible for Safeya in the Egyptian culture of that time? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

"Miramar" ends on an unhappy or seemingly morbid note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Miramar" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Miramar" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss this book based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if it is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.

3. Do you think the fact that "Miramar" falls within the genre of historical fiction changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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