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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Nafisi believe is the main point of "Lolita"?
(a) It is a demonstration of religious fanaticism.
(b) It is a morality tale about what happens to girls who disobey.
(c) It is a critique of what occurs in totalitarian systems.
(d) It is an example of how to achieve perfection.

2. Why do the intruders want access to Nafisi's house?
(a) They think she is selling and using drugs.
(b) They want to see what was happening on her neighbor's property.
(c) She is able to provide them with safety.
(d) They are searching for contraband.

3. When the intruders enter Nafisi's house, what happens?
(a) They catch Nafisi and the study group reading a book.
(b) They take her children away.
(c) The doorbell rings.
(d) There is a gun battle with Nafisi's neighbor.

4. How does Nafisi introduce the reader to the students in her class?
(a) She describes the arrival of each student on the first day of class.
(b) She gives each student a nickname based on their favorite book.
(c) She describes the students as a group so the reader understands the importance of community.
(d) She shows the photograph that was taken of the group of students.

5. Why does Nafisi return to the two photographs of her students in Chapter 7?
(a) The photographs show how much her students changed after they studied literature.
(b) The photographs are evidence that literature is more powerful than clothing.
(c) The images show the contrast between the repression of the outside world and the individuality and freedom allowed in the apartment.
(d) She wants to show how her students are the same people regardless of how they dress.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Nafisi remind the students of Nabokov?

2. What does Nafisi see reflected in the mirror?

3. How does Nafisi feel about revealing herself in class?

4. What does Nafisi's study group conclude about "Lolita"?

5. What does Nafisi share with her male acquaintance in Chapter 16?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Nafisi ask her children about their memories of Iran?

2. Why do Nafisi and her students feel so strongly about Nabokov and his works?

3. Why is there a difference between the students' level of comfort in talking about themselves and their level of comfort in discussing the novels?

4. What is the relationship between the imaginary rain shower and the meeting of Nafisi's class?

5. What is the similarity between Lolita's past and the past of Nafisi's students?

6. Why do the magician and Nafisi enjoy each other's company so much?

7. In Chapter 2, why does Nafisi describe the first meeting of the study group in present tense instead of past tense?

8. What does the magician do with the photographs Nafisi shows him?

9. Why does Nafisi agree with Nabokov's statement that every great novel is a fairy tale?

10. Why does Nafisi describe the three types of women portrayed in "A Thousand and One Nights"?

(see the answer keys)

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