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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 is one detail the police know about the car that hit Driss?

2. What does Nora wear that was a gift from her father for high school graduation?

3. What does Nora initially study in college before changing her mind?

4. What does Driss remember buying with Maryam early in their marriage that she would not compromise on?

5. What does Nora do for a living?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the basis of Jeremy's friendship with Fierro?

2. How do Nora and Salma embarrass Maryam in Part II?

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

4. What does Nora tell Jeremy that she feels about the money her father left her in Part II?

5. How does Jeremy's father change after his mother's death?

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

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

8. Why does Jeremy go to see Mary in Part II?

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

10. Why does Efrain hesitate to go the police as a witness to the hit-and-run?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Lalami evoke the reader's sympathy for several different characters who are in conflict with each other throughout the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

What feelings and tensions does Lalami use to show the differences between Nora and Jeremy in terms of their feelings on the war, guns, and law enforcement to explore throughout the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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