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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 many Afghans were living at the Nasir Bagh refugee camp when Tariq and his parents arrived there?

2. Why do Rasheed and Laila argue about the baby's clothes in Chapter 33?

3. When does Chapter 37 begin?

4. When is Chapter 51 set?

5. Who has built the classroom at the renovated orphanage in Chapter 51?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How have the politics of Afghanistan changed in Chapter 37? What new regulations are announced?

3. What symbolism and metaphors are explored through the death of Rasheed in Chapter 45?

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

5. Why does Mariam attempt contacting Jalil in Chapter 41? What does she discover?

6. What decision has Laila reached in Chapter 49, and what has led her to this decision?

7. What major political events are detailed in Chapter 49? What are Laila's thoughts on these events?

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

9. What are the consequences of Mariam's and Laila's capture in Chapter 36?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the themes of hope, history, and love in A Thousand Splendid Suns. What symbolism supports these themes in the narrative? How does the novel’s title connect to these themes? How do these themes relate to one another?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the history, implementation, and tenets of Shari'a Law in Afghanistan. When in Afghanistan’s history was the wearing of burqas first enforced? What limitations do women face regarding travel under Shari’a Law? How does this enforcement play a role in the actions of Mariam and Laila in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the setting of Herat, Afghanistan in the 1960s. Who was the leader of the country at this time? What was the political atmosphere like? How many people lived in Herat? How was wealth distributed in the country and the city? Where does Mariam live with her mother at this time? What is their home like?

(see the answer keys)

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