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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. What is the orange like at the end of "The Land of Sad Oranges"?

2. Why does the guide tell Assad he will not run away?

3. In "The Land of Sad Oranges," when does the narrator return to the house?

4. In "If You Were a Horse," why does the father tell his son he wishes he were a horse?

5. Where does Assad stay in Basra?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator's confusion about the father's money infer in "The Land of Sad Oranges"?

2. Why is Abu Qais hopeless?

3. In "If You Were a Horse," why does the father wish his son were a horse?

4. Why is the father so depressed in "The Land of Sad Oranges"?

5. Why is Abul Khaizarun delayed when he passes through customs?

6. In "The Land of Sad Oranges," why does the father come up with the murderous idea?

7. How is all the foreshadowing of death fulfilled in the end of "Men in the Sun"?

8. In "If You Were a Horse," why is the son's belief that his father hates him and horses ironic?

9. In "If You Were a Horse," why does the father refuse to allow his son to perform his surgery?

10. In "The Land of Sad Oranges," how does the army affect the father's mental state in two extremes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Symbolism is a device used in many literary pieces, including "A Hand in the Grave." What ideas or people most readily serve as symbols in the story? What symbols do you find surprising? Which symbol is the strongest? Remember to answer each question with evidence from the story.

Essay Topic 2

In "Letter from Gaza," the narrator originally had different plans, but then his perspective changed, as well as his plans. How does the narrator's perspective change? Why does it change? Why is he able to see something so clearly that he has not seen before? Remember to answer each question with evidence from the story.

Essay Topic 3

The mother in "The Land of the Sad Oranges" seems to play a background role in the story, but she still plays an important one. What role does the mother play in the story, and how is she portrayed throughout the story? How does she act for the family in their time of need? Remember to answer each question thoroughly with evidence from the story.

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This section contains 743 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample