Lobsang+Chapter+11+and+12

1. Why was Parvana's mother so against Parvana digging up bones? What specific arguments did the family make for Parvana to continue digging?

2. Why have Parvana and Nooria stopped fighting?

3. Why do the Taliban make such a big show out of punishing thieves?

4. If Shauzia leaves Afghanistan there will be no one left to take care of her family. If you were in her situation would you make the same choice as her? Why or why not.

5. Parvana's family could have left Afghanistan when the Taliban first took over. Why do you think they chose to stay?

=Answers=

1. Parvana's mother was against digging up bones because her mother thinks that war has made them resort to dig up their ancestors graves so they can feed their families and doesn't want them to go that low,"We dig up the bones of our ancestors in order to feed our families!" (page 115, paragraph 3). The arguments that the family made so that Parvana can continue digging is that,"They call for ordinary people to do unusual things, just to get by." (page 116, paragraph 8).

2. Parvana and Nooria stopped fighting because they know that they need their energy to take care of the family instead of wasting energy by fighting with each other. And maybe they have come to accept each other as friends.

3. The Taliban make such a big show of punishing thieves because the do not like criminals and will execute any if there are any. And they want to "protect" their country from anything that might want to threaten it.

4. In this world there are many fighting and wars happening but if it were to happen to me I would abandon my own family because even though it might be harsh I have to because my top priority is myself and my family would be like dead weight and drag me with them to poverty and misfortune.

5. I think they chose to stay because the family can't sneak out of the country with 4 children to take care of,"She couldn't sneak away with four children to take care of."