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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 language did Samuel speak besides English?

2. When did it become obvious that Mamush's son was moving less and less?

3. What name was on the fake license Mamush brought to college?

4. What did Mamush write about that caused Samuel to encourage him to come back and celebrate Thanksgiving with him and Elsa?

5. How long did Samuel live in Italy?

Short Essay Questions

1. What friend of Mamush's mother died when he was 14, and what did he learn about the woman?

2. What song did Mamush hum to Hannah, and how was the song familiar to her?

3. How did Mamush learn that Samuel died?

4. How did Samuel live when he first moved to the DC suburbs?

5. What was the home like that Samuel and Elsa lived in when Mamush and Hannah came to America together?

6. What does Mamush know and remember about living in Chicago?

7. What does Mamush remember about the drive when he and Hannah first visited America together?

8. How did Samuel try to help Mamush when he stopped writing?

9. What inspired Mamush to want to go to America for Christmas?

10. How did Mamush miss his flight to America?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Samuel was Mamush's father. However, they had more of an uncle/nephew relationship than a father/son relationship. How would you describe the relationship between Mamush and Samuel?

Essay Topic 2

The title of the book is Someone Like Us; it suggests various themes Mengestu expands upon in the novel. What does the title of the book convey about various themes in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

In media res is the technique of beginning a story with a pivotal point or a situation that is the end to a series of events. Where does Mengestu begin the story? How does he plunge into the story without an explanation? How does beginning the story in the middle of the action affect the plot and affect readers?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 988 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample