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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. About what does Amer ramble?

2. Who does Zohra distrust?

3. Who has a monthly radio concert?

4. From whom does Zohra turn down a marriage proposal.

5. Who does Hosny feel is beneath him socially?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Hosny feel towards marriage and women?

2. About what is Amer dreaming when he hears a ruckus in the hallway?

3. Who announces Sarhan's death and what is Hosny's reaction?

4. Describe Hosny Allam.

5. What commotion in the hallway does Hosny respond to, and what does he do?

6. What is the general atmosphere at the beginning of the Umm Kulthum concert, and how does that change?

7. How does Hosny feel about old people?

8. Where has Amer Wagdi moved and how long has it been since he was last there?

9. Describe Mansour Bahy.

10. With whom does Hosny hook up after leaving the Umm Kulthum at intermission, and what is the woman's advice to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Discuss Hosny Allam's character as symbolic of the corruption that underlies Egyptian culture at that time.

2. After researching Egyptian history from 1940 to the present, do you think Zohra Salama will make it as a single female in Egyptian society? Discuss fully using examples from your research.

3. Compare/contrast the life and choices of Zohra Salama to that of Safeya Barakat. How are their backgrounds similar or dissimilar? Why do they each make the specific choices they make? Could Zohra end up like Safeya? Why or why not? Is redemption possible for Safeya in the Egyptian culture of that time? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

"Miramar" ends on an unhappy or seemingly morbid note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Miramar" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Miramar" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the theme of choice in "Miramar". Who makes wise choices? Who makes unwise choices? Do you think Sarhan believes more in fate or free will? Why?

2. Debate the following statement in an argument/persuasion essay: Making several poor choices one after the other makes it more likely one will continue to make poor choices.

3. Rewrite the ending with Sarhan making what you think would be a wiser choice and then discuss why you believe it would be a better choice.

(see the answer keys)

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