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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. How does Zahra recognize Rahal ?

2. Who was born in the Year of the Elephant ?

3. How much money does Zahra receive in Chapter 3 from the government?

4. Who did Faqih leave behind in Vietnam?

5. What people make up Zahra's family class?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Zahra's experience at Al-Adir?

2. How does Zahra decide to make a living and who taught her this skill?

3. Describe Abou Zayd's childhood and how it affected her writing.

4. What happens to Zahra's husband in Chapter 4? How does she find out?

5. Who is the local "faqih" and how does he help Zahra in Chapter 1?

6. Describe Zahra's mood at the start of Chapter 4. Why does she feel this way?

7. What happened in Morocco when it gained independence?

8. What is the Year of the Elephant ?

9. What did Zahra describe as an oasis and desert and why?

10. Where does Zahra go to live at the end of Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does Abu Zayd's writing suggest about the treatment of women in Moroccan society? Provide several examples that demonstrate the different social rules for men and women in Abu Zayd's book.

Essay Topic 2

How does the theme of abandonment present itself in the story "Divorce". How was the main character affected by abandonment in his childhood and how does he act out in adulthood?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character of Zahra. How does Zahra change from the beginning to the end of the book "Year of the Elephant"? Why? Do you believe Zahra is innocent at any point of the book? When does she loose her innocence? Choose one other character in the book and explain their relationship with Zahra..

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 656 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample