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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 particularly sees trouble in the actions of Yasin's new wife after they are married?

2. Who dies in Chapter 63?

3. Who do Ahmad's children decide to ask for help to get him to let Amina return?

4. Who is absent from coffee hour in Chapter 42?

5. Where does Kamal take refuge when strikers break down the schoolroom door at his school?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the nature of Iffat's visit to Ahmad's store in Chapter 60?

2. What happens when Yasin finds the maid Nur on the roof of the house?

3. What occurs when Ahmad and his sons attend the Friday prayer service in Chapter 61?

4. How does Kamal tell Ahmad that he wants Amina back in their house?

5. How does Kamal act towards the British troops in Chapter 64?

6. What does Jalia confront Ahmad about when she joins the men's party during Aisha's marriage celebration?

7. What is the nature of Fahmy and Yasin's conversation in Chapter 41?

8. How does Ahmad participate in politics according to his actions in Chapter 49?

9. How is Yasin's wedding reception described?

10. What do Kamal and Umm Hanafi tell the others happened when they were chased by British troops?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the author's portrayal of domesticity in the female characters of Ahmad's household. What is telling of the changes in culture based on Amina and Khadija's differing views on domesticity?

Essay Topic 2

The subject of religion is discussed on many levels, including Amina's piety, the presence of holy figures, and talk of the Qur'an.

Part 1.) How does Amina represent pious and religious behavior in the book?

Part 2.) What purpose might the author have for including holy figures like al-Husayn and the sheikhs in the book?

Part 3.) What role does the Qur'an play in the book?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the nature of the British troops in Cairo, notably those that Kamal and other members of Ahmad's family interacted with. What is telling about these troops' civilized nature that suggests Fahmy's ideologies may be flawed?

(see the answer keys)

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