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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 much money does Laila hope to steal from Rasheed before she runs away in Chapter 34?

2. What language does Tariq say he learned to speak while he was in prison?

3. What is the name of the town that Tariq says he lives in, in Chapter 44?

4. What television channel are Tariq and Laila watching as New York's Twin Towers are hit on 9/11?

5. What weapon does Mariam use to kill Rasheed in Chapter 45?

Short Essay Questions

1. When does Chapter 41 take place? How is the atmosphere of Afghanistan described at this time?

2. How does Laila respond when she determines that she is pregnant in Chapter 38?

3. How would you describe the ending of the novel? Do you think the novel ends on a hopeful note? Why or why not?

4. In Chapter 49, Laila and Tariq have their first argument as a married couple. What do they argue about?

5. What is symbolic about the burial that takes place in Chapter 40?

6. What is the greatest conflict that Laila faces in Chapter 31?

7. How would you describe Laila's greatest struggle in Chapter 42? How does Laila's suffering influence your opinion of her character?

8. What transition takes place in Chapter 27? What circumstances are established at the beginning of this chapter?

9. How are the circumstances and lives of Laila, Tariq, and their children described in Chapter 51?

10. How would you describe the sacrifice that Mariam makes in Chapter 46? What are the consequences of this sacrifice?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the arrival of the Taliban in Kabul and the establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and its laws. What requirements are men given in regard to their appearance? What requirements are given for women’s appearance under these laws? How were the daily lives of women in Kabul affected by these changes?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of sacrifice in A Thousand Splendid Suns. In what ways does Mariam’s sacrifice give life and freedom to Laila and her children? Is Laila aware of the sacrifice that Mariam makes for her? What does Mariam’s act mean to Laila?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the character of Mariam as one of the two protagonists in A Thousand Splendid Suns. How old is Mariam when she is introduced? What is Mariam’s relationship like with each of her parents? Whom is Mariam closest to? Why?

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