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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. Who does Mansour visit after learning of the arrest?

2. With whom would Sarhan wish to listen to the Umm Kulthum's concert?

3. What is the reason Doreya chose Fawzi to marry?

4. What does Mansour do to Sarhan?

5. What are Ali and Sarhan planning?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Sarhan's encounter with Tolba on the street.

2. Describe Mansour's version of the altercation in the hallway between an unknown woman, Zohra and Sarhan.

3. What are Sarhan's quick impressions of Hosny and Mansour?

4. What does Mansour do when he learns of Fawzi's arrest?

5. What is Mansour's further impression of Zohra and how does he feel towards her?

6. What happens when Sarhan tries to kiss Zohra for the first time, and what is Zohra's reaction?

7. Why does Doreya say Mansour is four years too late and what is his response?

8. What does Sarhan say about Mariana when he asks to rent a room and how does Zohra act when she sees him at the Miramar?

9. What do Mansour and Amer discuss one night?

10. When does Sarhan first see Zohra and what does he do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss the character Zohra Salama. What are her strengths? Weaknesses? How does she evolve over the course of the story? Is she likable at the beginning of the story? Sympathetic? How do you view her by the end of the book? Do you think she is a protagonist or antagonist? Why

2. Thoroughly discuss the character Sarhan al-Beheiry . What are his strengths? Weaknesses? How does he evolve over the course of the story? (or does he?) Is he likable at the beginning of the story? At the end of the book? Is he trustworthy? Wise? Would you want him as a friend? As an enemy?

3. Thoroughly discuss Hosny Allam. What are his strengths? Weaknesses? How does he evolve over the course of the story? (or does he?) Is he likable at the beginning of the story? At the end of the book? Is he trustworthy? Wise? Would you want him as a friend? As an enemy?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Many events that happen in "Miramar" are foreshadowed by previous events and/or signs. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "foreshadow."

2. Why would an author use foreshadowing? Do you think it adds or detracts from your experience as a reader? Explain.

3. Trace and analyze five instances of foreshadowing in the story. Match up what is mentioned earlier and what it foreshadows. Did you guess that each instance of foreshadowing was a "heads up" of something to come? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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