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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 come Santa does not come to Taslima's house this Christmas?

2. In what borough of New York is Razia's neighborhood?

3. What is the name of Razia's neighborhood?

4. What story from the Quran does Razia's mother tell Razia and her friends?

5. What is Razia's favorite kind of fancy cookie?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Saima and Razia's experience with the man at the can counting desk at Key Food?

2. Why does Razia push Julio away from her when they are burying the dead bird?

3. Why does Razia's mother cry and get angry and become upset at the beginning of the chapter titled, "Cherry Tree"?

4. How does Razia's grandmother survive in Pakistan after her husband dies?

5. What happens between Saima's family and Razia's family after Saima's uncle steals from Razia's father's butcher shop?

6. What is the moment of lightness for Razia's mother and the cherry tree?

7. What is Aliza's ambition after high school? what is her opinion about marrying a Pakistani man?

8. Why does Razia cherish the time that her mother spends looking through Razia's hair for lice?

9. How does Razia introduce her neighborhood?

10. How does Razia interpret the look on the old Italian's face after seeing what becomes of the cat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the end of the chapter titled, "Bethesda Fountain" Razia thinks that she and Taslima and everyone are just like the ducks who go against their natural instincts to be taken care of. Why does Razia think that? How does that thought directly apply to Razia's life?

Essay Topic 2

Describe Razia's relationship with her mother. How does this relationship change over time? How does Razia feel about her mother? Why does she have to be secretive around her mother at times? How does fear of disappointment play a role in Razia's relationship with her mother?

Essay Topic 3

What are the main themes of the story? How does the author continue to return to the main themes through the telling of the story? Are there parts of the story that seem particularly poignant in connection to the theme? if so, which sections seem particularly poignant and why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 868 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample