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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 is Nora having an affair with?

2. Who does Nora frequently call to check on the investigation into her father's death?

3. Who is in charge of the investigation into Driss's death?

4. Who is Coleman's son?

5. What happens to Driss's business after 9/11?

Short Essay Questions

1. When is the one time Jeremy remembers his father telling him he was proud of Jeremy?

2. Why is Coleman uncomfortable talking to Murphy?

3. Why does Nora spend so much time at her father's cabin in Part II?

4. Why does Coleman move to a Mojave Desert town?

5. What happens to Driss's donut shop after 9/11?

6. Why does Nora get upset at Salma's husband Tareq for his suggestions early in Part I?

7. What does Maryam do in the period that Nora thinks of as the "Cold War" phase of her parents' relationship?

8. What does Anderson Baker tell Coleman about the night Driss died in Part II?

9. Who tries to persuade Efrain to go to the police with his information, and why?

10. Why does Nora remember her father's death with contradictory thoughts?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do the fathers in this novel - from Driss, to Anderson, to Coleman's husband Ray - have in common, and how do they differ in their treatment of their children, both young and adult? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

What is the difference between Driss's and Maryam's approaches and attitudes towards Islam, and how do these differences affect their marriage? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does Coleman finally arrive at the accurate conclusion as to who was responsible for Driss's death? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

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