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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 in charge of the investigation into Driss's death?

2. What does Salma do for a living?

3. How does Maryam feel in the days after Driss's death?

4. What is the name of Driss's business?

5. Who bails Fierro out of jail?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What is Nora's relationship with Salma like?

5. What early embarrassing experience does Maryam have in trying to speak to a stranger and make friends in Part I, during her early days in America?

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

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

8. Why does Salma become so bitter towards Nora in Part II?

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

10. How does Nora challenge Jeremy on his past in Part II?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What happens to lead to a near-breakthrough in Nora's and Salma's understanding with each other, and why is it never fully realized? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 2

How and why does Jeremy's and Bryan's relationship deteriorate, and what does the reader learn about Jeremy through Nora's perception of his last fight with Bryan? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Why does Efrain finally decide to come forward to tell his story as a witness to Driss's death? What does Lalami use Efrain's experiences and feelings to reveal about a poor immigrant's experience in America? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 617 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample