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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 Nora get so upset in Part III after sleeping with Jeremy?

2. Where does Fierro live?

3. What does Nora remember A.J. having scrawled on her locker in high school?

4. How does Coleman feel when a witness to the hit-and-run finally comes forward?

5. Who do Salma and Maryam talk to that angers Nora in the end of Part III?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Jeremy and Nora do when he comes to her house for the first time on his own in Part III?

2. Why is Nora frustrated with Ray in Part IV?

3. In Part IV, why does Jeremy ask Coleman about the investigation?

4. What specific piece of information does Efrain have that strengthens the case against Baker?

5. What does Nora remember about A.J. from high school?

6. What does Salma do to cope with the pressures of her job and family in Part IV?

7. What does Fierro asks Jeremy about Nora in Part IV that upsets him?

8. What does Nora tell Jeremy about Max in Part III, and why?

9. How does Maryam feel about the diner?

10. Why is Nora angry with Salma about Anderson Baker's court appearance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Lalami explain the true impact of Jeremy's and Bryan's experiences in the war in Iraq to the reader throughout the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does Lalami establish and maintain suspense throughout this novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

The reader learns about Driss's dishonesty and infidelity to Maryam as the plot progresses, but when and how does Lalami reveal Maryam's own dishonesty in the relationship, and how does this affect the reader's perception of her? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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