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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 kind of coops does Amina keep on her roof?

2. What is Amina's husband's name?

3. How does Amina's mother describe her grandfather and father to suggest why evil cannot befall her?

4. Who does Ahmad insist get married first out of his children in Chapter 5?

5. What title does Ahmad hold at the party he throws in Chapter 16?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the nature of Yasin's complaints about his mother when he visits Ahmad in Chapter 17?

2. How does Yasin remember his happy childhood ruined by a fruit merchant?

3. How is Amina's mother described when she goes to stay with her during her exile?

4. What is Kamal doing after leaving school in Chapter 8?

5. How are Amina's duties on her roof described in Chapter 6?

6. How does Amina's sons react when they come to visit her at her mother's house just after her exile?

7. How are the three visitors that come to Ahmad's home described?

8. How are Ahmad's actions to those outside his household described?

9. How is Yasin and Amina's visit to the al-Husayn shrine described?

10. How does Ahmad react when a matchmaker hints that Mme. Nafusa wanted to be his second wife?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the nature of ritual in Ahmad's home. Why does Ahmad's family agree to perform the daily rituals and chores he demands of them?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the author's portrayal of Egyptian society in the book, and note if Ahmad fits into this portrayal or not. What clues can be found to suggest that Ahmad's household rituals are more extreme than the norm in Egypt?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the portrayal of martyrdom in the book, focusing on Fahmy's journey of becoming a martyr and the obstacles he overcame. What is the country's true feelings towards martyrs based on the nature of Fahmy's burial in the book?

(see the answer keys)

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