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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 does Mina dream about on Lesbos?

2. Who accompanies Mina and Jennifer on their trip to Indonesia?

3. Where is the unnamed writer when he tries on a dress for the first time?

4. Who is one of Mina's heroes as a child?

5. What significant event does Mina miss by being in Lesbos in Part I?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the writer's first experience in drag?

2. In "You, the Nervous Wreck," what does Mina say is the influence of the writer's work on her decisions?

3. Whose betrayal hurt Mina more than that of her parents?

4. In "You Made Me Do It," who encourages Mina to write about her experiences and why?

5. Who was the only person Mina ever talked about her family with and why?

6. Why is Mina's being a woman significant in her work as a doctor with the refugees?

7. In "Doctors in Drag," why does the family ask Mina if she is a man?

8. What does Mina remember her mother spending a lot of extra money on when she was a child?

9. Why does Francine not like Emma?

10. In "Here Comes the Boat," why is Mina so concerned about Sumaiya?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Alameddine explores a range of strong emotions at a fever pitch throughout the novel - fear, anger, frustration, sadness, and even joy. Write an essay analyzing Alameddine's tone at different points throughout the novel, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does Alameddine describe Mina's process of gender transition? Why do you think he chooses to pace the revelations about Mina's gender transition the way he does throughout the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

What complications about the motivations and goals of the aid workers on Lesbos does Alameddine reveal throughout the novel? What are some of the different and opposing perspectives different characters, including Emma, Rasheed, and Mina take about the aid workers? 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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