The Kite Runner

Foreign Word Definitions for Chapters 10-14

Bakhsida- pg. 110- Pardoned by God.

Shorawi- pg. 111-The former U.S.S.R.

Rafigs- pg. 113-Comrade.

Spasseba- pg. 114-Russian for “Thank You”.

Bolani- pg. 138-Afghan dish consisting of flat bread stuffed with foods such as potatoes or
leeks.

Qabuli- pg. 138-Afghan rice dish with meat, raisins, and carrots.

Mashallah- pg. 139-Praise God. Typically said when seeing someone beautiful or smart.

Ahmaq- pg. 145-Foolish, stupid, awkward.

“Khoda Hafez”- pg. 146-“ Good keep you safe”- or Good-bye

Bachem- pg. 149-Word meaning my child or my baby

Kolcha- pg. 150-A kind of bread.

Ghazal- pg. 166-Love song or poem

Nang- pg.179-Honor; reputation; estimation

Namoos- pg. 179-Reputation; fame; renown; dignity

Madar- pg. 180-a man

Name _____________________________ Class pd. ___________

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini READING QUESTIONS for CHAPTERS 10-14 (Pgs. 110-194)
CHAPTER 10
1. What “weakness” of Amir’s does Baba apologize for in Chapter 10?
Baba apologizes for never being able to show Amir affection and for not being able to love him the way he deserved.

2. Who is Karim?
Karim is the man who helps Amir and Sohrab cross the border into Pakistan. He is a friend of Rahim Khan's

and a member of the Afghan Resistance.

3. Describe Amir and Baba’s departure from Kabul.

Baba apologizes to Amir for not being able to give him the emotional support and

love that he needed as a child. Baba acknowledges that he had been too hard on

Amir, and that he should have shown him more affection

4. How and why did Amir think Baba was going to die?

Amir believes that Baba is going to die because of the blood in his

coughs and his deteriorating health. Amir thinks that Baba is

suffering from lung cancer, which he believes is a result of Baba's

heavy smoking

5. How has Kamal, Assef’s friend, changed?

It is revealed that Kamal, Assef's friend, has changed significantly since the last time Amir saw

him. He has become frail, sickly, and withdrawn, and appears to be suffering from some kind of

mental trauma. It is suggested that this may have been caused by the violent and traumatic

events that he witnessed during the war, including the brutal murder of his own parents.
6. What memory helps Amir in the fume-filled tank?

When Amir is trapped in the fume-filled fuel truck, he thinks back to a memory of himself

and Hassan flying a kite together. Specifically, he recalls the moment when they had cut

down the last kite in the tournament and Hassan ran it for him.

CHAPTER 11
7. What is the new setting of the book? Include time and place in your response.
The new setting of the book is in the United States in the 1980s. Specifically, it is in Fremont, California, where

Amir and Baba have settled after fleeing Afghanistan.

8. "For me, America was a place to bury my memories. / For Baba, a place to mourn his" (p. 129). What
is the significance of this quote?
The quote highlights the different perspectives that Amir and Baba have towards their new life in America. Amir sees America as a place to escape

and bury his memories of Afghanistan, particularly his guilt and shame over his treatment of Hassan. On the other hand, Baba sees America as a

place to mourn the loss of his old life and the traditions and culture of Afghanistan. This quote also emphasizes the theme of displacement and the

struggles that immigrants face when trying to adjust to a new country and culture.

9. What surprised Mrs. Dobbins? What does this show about Baba?
i dont understand that question

10. What does Baba give Amir as a graduation present? What is Amir feeling at this moment? What is
Baba feeling?
Baba gives Amir a visit to Pakistan and Afghanistan as a graduation present. Amir is feeling

both excited and anxious at this moment. On the other hand, Baba feels proud of his son and is

willing to grant him anything he wants as a reward for his hard work.
 11. What does Amir tell his father he wants to study in college? What is Baba’s reaction?
Amir tells his father, Baba, that he wants to study creative writing in college. Baba is disappointed with Amir's

choice and thinks he should choose a more practical field like medicine or law. Baba believes that creative writing

is a "waste of time" and does not offer any practical value

12. “America was different. America was a river roaring along, unmindful of the past. I could wade into
this river, let my sins drown to the bottom, let the waters carry me someplace far” (p. 136). What do
these words reveal? How is America a river?

These words reveal Amir's desire to start a new life in America and leave behind his painful past and guilt. He sees America as a

place where he can escape the memories of his past and begin anew. The metaphor of America being a river roaring along,

unmindful of the past, suggests that America is a place where one can leave the past behind and move forward, just as a river

keeps flowing and never looks back.

13. What are Baba and Amir doing in San Jose on the weekends?
Baba and Amir are going to a farmers' market in San Jose on the weekends to buy and taste fresh fruits

and vegetables. They also enjoy trying different types of food from various cultures.

14. What are “the ingredients of an Afghan Sunday at the flea market”?
Baba's haggling, sipping tea, socializing with fellow Afghan immigrants, and reminiscing about the past. 

15. Who is General Taheri? Who is Soraya?

General Taheri is a former high-ranking military official from Afghanistan who now lives in Fremont, California.

He is a family friend of Baba's and becomes a surrogate father to Soraya.

~The Kite Runner film

CHAPTER 12
16. What story does Soraya tell Amir on page 151? What does this show about her?

Soraya tells Amir the story of how she ran away with a man and lived with him for a month before her father found

her and brought her back home. She tells Amir that she is not proud of what she did but learned from her mistake

and has since been living her life with more caution and responsibility. This shows that Soraya is honest and willing

to confront her past mistakes and that she values her reputation and the opinions of her family and community.

17. Why didn’t the visit with the first pulmonologist work out?
The visit with the first pulmonologist didn't work out because he had asked Baba about his

medical history, including whether he had ever had a blood transfusion. Baba had become

defensive and refused to answer, which caused the doctor to become suspicious and refuse to

see him again.

18. What is Baba diagnosed with? How does he decide to treat it?
Baba is diagnosed with lung cancer. At first, he decides not to pursue any treatment,

believing it is too late and his fate is already sealed. However, after Amir urges him to

seek treatment, he agrees to undergo chemotherapy.

19. Why does Amir ask Baba to meet with General Taheri? What is Baba’s smile compared to? Use a
quote in your answer.
Amir asks Baba to meet with General Taheri to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. Baba's smile is

compared to "a cat, sated after a meal, lapping cream from its paws" (p. 158). This quote suggests that

Baba is pleased and content with the proposal, and he approves of Amir's intentions to marry Soraya.

20. What does Soraya tell Amir about on pages 164 and 165? Do you think Amir should have told Soraya
about his betrayal of Hassan before they were married? Why or why not?

Soraya shares her past with Amir, including running away with a man who caused her family to view her as damaged

goods. Whether Amir should have told Soraya about his betrayal of Hassan before they were married is subjective and

can be interpreted differently based on cultural and personal beliefs.

CHAPTER 13
21. Describe the wedding ceremony.
It is described as a traditional Afghan wedding with many guests, food, and music. The wedding takes

place in a large banquet hall and is separated by gender, with women in one area and men in another. The

bride and groom are seated on a stage, and the ceremony is conducted by a mullah. The bride and

groom exchange rings, and the groom's father presents the bride with gifts. The guests then participate

in a lively dance called the attan. The chapter describes the vibrant colors of the traditional Afghan

clothing worn by the guests, as well as the delicious food that is served.

22. While at the mosque, Amir thinks about the “bears” his father has wrestled during his lifetime. What
“bears” has Baba wrestled?
While at the mosque, Amir thinks about the "bears" his father has wrestled with during his lifetime. Some of these "bears" include escaping

from Afghanistan, building a new life in America, and raising a son alone. Baba also had to face his own guilt and mistakes, particularly in

his treatment of Hassan and Ali.

~DeviantArt

23. What does Amir learn of his in-laws as described on pages 176 through 178?

Amir learns about his in-laws' experiences as Afghans who fled their home country due to the Soviet

invasion and subsequent civil war, including General Taheri's military background, Jamila's career as a

doctor in Kabul, and their struggles as immigrants in the United States.

24. What does Soraya say is unfair?
Soraya tells Amir that it's unfair that women in Afghan culture are judged so harshly for their past mistakes and

that their honor and reputation are so closely tied to their sexuality. She expresses frustration with the double

standards between men and women and how men are often praised for their sexual exploits while women are

shamed for the same behavior.

25. What is going on in Amir’s life in 1988? What is going on in Afghanistan?

In 1988, Amir was living with Soraya in California and was working as a writer. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, the

Soviet Union is beginning to withdraw its troops after years of occupation, and the country is in a state of

political and social turmoil. The different ethnic groups within Afghanistan are vying for power, and a civil war

is brewing. The situation in Afghanistan becomes a significant focus of the latter part of the book.

26. What disappointment do Soraya and Amir face?

Soraya and Amir face the disappointment of not being able to have children. They try to conceive for a year

before seeking medical help, and after going through numerous tests and procedures, they are told that

Soraya cannot have children.

CHAPTER 14
27. This chapter brings us back to the opening of the book: the telephone call from Rahim Khan. What
does Amir tell Soraya about Rahim? Where is Amir planning to go and why?
Amir tells Soraya about his childhood friend Rahim Khan, and how he received a phone call from him asking

him to come to Pakistan. Amir plans to travel to Pakistan to visit Rahim Khan because he wants to learn more

about what happened to Hassan and to make amends for his past mistakes. He feels that it is his

responsibility to do so and that he cannot move on with his life without confronting his past.

~BioWorld ~PNGio