Question

1Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story.

Which detail from the story "Hamadi" by Naomi Shihab Nye best shapes the theme that it's important to have compassion for others?

A Tracy and Susan develop a passion for the stories of Khalil Gibran.

BHamadi chooses to comfort Tracy, a total stranger to him, when she becomes upset.

C Susan's father admonishes her for not spending time with her actual uncles.

D Susan becomes interested in Hamadi when she is a teenager.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this story.

2 How would the story "Hamadi" by Naomi Shihab Nye be different if Hamadi was its first-person narrator?

A The reader would know more about what motivates and propels the actions of every character.

B The reader would get a more impartial and honest account of the story's events.

C The reader would know that Hamadi actually does not believe many of the things he says to Susan.

D The reader would know more about Hamadi's inner thoughts and feelings and less about Susan's.

Answer 1

I just took the test and for the first one it is: B. Hamadi chooses to comfort Tracy, a total stranger to him, when she becomes upset. :)

I am not sure for the second one, as my test version did not contain this question. :(

Answer 2

1. In my opinion, the correct answer is B. Hamadi chooses to comfort Tracy, a total stranger to him, when she becomes upset. Hamadi doesn't have any particular reason to be close to Susan or Tracy, but he nevertheless takes interest in them and spends time with Susan. The C option may seem to be true, but it is just a juxtaposition to Susan's feelings for Hamadi, and not the real carrier of the theme of compassion.

2. In my opinion, the correct answer is D. The reader would know more about Hamadi's inner thoughts and feelings and less about Susan's. The first-person narrator offers us a limited perspective, as he/she can't know what's happening in other characters' minds. But the author doesn't tell the story from Hamadi's point of view because Hamadi is just a catalyst for Susan's quest to find her own identity.