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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. Why does Amal sleep poorly the night she reads about Anna and Sharif in the garden outside St. Catherine's Monastery?

2. What group is Omar rumored to be associated with?

3. What happens to Edward in Chapter 3?

4. What does Amal discover that matches one of Omar's possessions?

5. Where does Anna sleep when she reaches the Sinai desert?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to Sharif's first marriage?

2. How are Amal and Isabel similar?

3. How is 'Omar described at the beginning of the book?

4. What are Sir Charles' views of colonialism?

5. How is Amal related to Isabel?

6. Describe Egypt's government in the early 20th century.

7. How is Anna similar to Amal?

8. How does Anna and Sharif's relationship change at St. Catherine's monastery?

9. According to the men at the Atelier 'am Ghazzali, how do the events of the early 20th century affect the political climate of Egypt in the late 20th century?

10. How does Jasmine shock Isabel in Chapter 5?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare Egypt's government in the early 20th century with its government in the late 20th century. How did the political climate and subsequent events in the early 20th century affect the political climate and events in the late 20th century? What freedoms were earned in the late 20th century due to the efforts of men like Sharif in the early 20th century?

Essay Topic 2

How does Soueif blend the two time lines to establish continuity in the novel? Describe how Anna's journal entries parallel or compliment Amal's experiences. How is the progression of Anna's life in Egypt used to motivate Amal? How does the progression of events in Anna's journal affect the development of Amal's character?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Anna and Amal. What aspects of Anna are evident in Amal before she reads the journals? How does Amal's research into Anna's life affect her character?

(see the answer keys)

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