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

2. Which of the following things are women not doing inside the mosque in Chapter 27?

3. Where does pain course through Amina after she is injured leaving a mosque?

4. What is on a provocative poster that Kamal looks at along with the shrine of al-Husayn?

5. What is Yasin on the prowl for in Chapter 12?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Amina injured on her way home from visiting the al-Husayn shrine?

2. How are Ahmad's attempts at getting Zubayda to sing at a party described in Chapter 15?

3. What is the nature of Khadija and Aisha's conversation regarding marriage in Chapter 5?

4. What happens when Amina confesses leaving the house to visit the al-Husayn shrine to Ahmad?

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

6. How does Ahmad react to Fahmy's request to marry Maryam?

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

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

9. How does Ahmad react to Shaykh Mutawalli's claim that he is an adulterer in Chapter 7?

10. How are Ahmad's actions at a party where he hires Zubayda to sing described?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the concept of submission in the book, notably through Ahmad and Amina's relationship. What might Amina feel that submitting to her husband would represent in terms of her culture and social beliefs?

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

Early in the book, it becomes clear that there is a pointed difference in the way the men and women of Ahmad's family are treated.

Part 1.) What can we learn about the difference between men and women in Ahmad's household based on the morning rituals of each in his house?

Part 2.) What is telling about the time period of the book based on the treatment of men and women in the book?

Part 3.) What can we learn about the nature of Ahmad's character based on his treatment of men and women in the book?

(see the answer keys)

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