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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. What did Anderson frequently complain about to A.J. and his mother?

3. What does Efrain particularly love about Marisela?

4. What does the person who hit Driss say he thought he had hit?

5. What does Coleman say is probably some proof that the person who is responsible for the hit-and-run is innocent?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Fletcher do in Iraq that Jeremy can never get over?

2. Why does Nora recoil from Jeremy going to the shooting range with Fierro?

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

4. Why is Coleman increasingly worried about Miles in Part III?

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

6. What does Miles tell Coleman in Part III that really hurts her?

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

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

9. Why does Nora become committed to the idea of running The Pantry in Part IV?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

How does Lalami communicate the disappointments and betrayals of different characters in this novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does Lalami treat the theme of infidelity in general, and what does Nora's discovery of her father's affair do to her perception of herself and her own affair with Max, a married man? 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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