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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 does 'Omar buy Amal in Chapter 24?

2. What has ten-year-old Ahmad memorized in Chapter 27?

3. What nationality is Cromer?

4. What must Sharif wait for before he can set up a school?

5. Why are 'Am Abu el-Ma'ti and seventeen other men arrested in Chapter 26?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Anna consider returning to England in Chapter 17?

2. How does Amal honor her ancestors once her research is complete?

3. How does Tareq offer to help Amal in Chapter 21?

4. How does Tareq help Amal and the fellaheen in Chapter 26?

5. Why does Anna decide to remain in Egypt?

6. Why is Sharif offended by the carriage driver in Chapter 23?

7. How does the Zionist movement affect the Egyptian characters in the book?

8. How does Anna's life change after Sharif's death?

9. How does Sharif's motivation and behavior change by Chapter 29?

10. What fear does Sharif have for Nur's future?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do Amal and 'Omar separate from their Egyptian heritage? What motivates each character to leave Egypt? What motivates each character to reconnect with his or her Egyptian roots? What changes do Amal and 'Omar make to their lives as a result of Amal's research into Anna's life?

Essay Topic 2

How does Anna cope with the loss of each husband? Describe Anna's emotional state after Edward's death. How does she cope with his loss? Describe Anna's emotional state after Sharif's death. How does she cope with his loss? Based on her reaction to each husband's death, which man does she appear to love the most, and why?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the rise of Zionism in the early 20th century and how it affects the characters in the novel. What fears do Sharif and his contemporaries have about the Zionist movement? How does history confirm or negate those fears? How does Zionism affect the distribution of Sharif's descendants, and ultimately, their cultural heritage?

(see the answer keys)

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