Q4 English Exam (Malala Questions)-2026

October 9, 2012 she was 15

When was Malala shot? How old was she at the time?

Khushal

What is the name of the school Malala attended in Mingora?

Badal which means revenge 

Hospitality: you always open your door to a visitor

Malala talks about two principles of the Pashtunwali code that her family and their neighbors follow. List and define the two principles she mentions.

She thought Safina stole her toy phone so she stole some of Safina’s jewelry as revenge. She felt ashamed of herself after her parents found out and learns that she doesn’t believe in revenge.

Describe the story Malala tells about Safina and the pink plastic cell phone.  What does she learn from this experience?

Women were limited in career choices. (They could be doctors so that  they could treat the women patients.)

Purdah- segregation or seclusion of women; wearing the veil, women could not go out of their house without a male relative, the women are not celebration and their names are not put on the family tree (malala’s was put on the tree)

How are males and females treated differently in Malala’s culture? Cite two examples from Chapter 1.

The great young Pashtun heroine malalai of Maiwand

Who was Malala named after?

Malala’s father fulfilled his dream to open a school, but her mother is illiterate

What role does education play in Malala’s family?

It is her greatest passion. She wants to learn everything, stays up all night studying and wants to be the top in her class.

How does Malala feel about education?

Many of the people in Shangla were very poor and did not have modern facilities, such as hospitals and markets, universities, female doctors, and utilities.

The people live a simple “country” life. The men work (often in other towns), women take care of the home, and kids play outdoors and don’t go to school.

How is life different for those who live in Shangla?

They call her a “city girl” because she didn’t go barefoot and wore clothes bought at the bazaar (not homemade like theirs)

Why did Malala’s cousins make fun of her?

In the “wedding” game, the “bride” cries while the others tell her “not to worry.” This is because marriage is usually arranged with teenage girls marrying older men.

Game with her brother: Cricket

What was one of Malala’s favorite games to play with her girl cousins, and what does this game reveal about Malala’s culture?

Women are seen as insignificant. Fathers don’t value their daughters because they will be married off young and don’t send them to school because they are only expected to become wives and mothers

How are women viewed in Shangla?

Under Taliban rule, women can only go out in public with a male chaperone and must wear burquas (the most restrictive covering for women).

They were also banned from laughing out loud and wearing nail polish.

They were beaten or jailed for breaking rules.

Describe the Taliban’s treatment of the women of Afghanistan.

Malala’s father values her, supports her dreams, and won’t restrict her freedom the way most men and fathers in their culture would.

Why is it significant that Malala’s father, Ziauddin, says, “I will protect your freedom, Malala. Carry on with your dreams”?

if they attended school, their families would go hungry. This sight was a turning point, awakening her to extreme poverty and fueling her desire for social change, causing her to ask her father to offer them free places at his school.

When Malala asked her father why the children in the rubbish pile were not in school, how did he respond?  In what way was seeing these children a turning point for Malala?

They both believe that they should share everything that they have with others that are less fortunate.

How are Malala and her mother, Toor Pekai, alike in the way they view helping people?

A bunch of the richer kids started getting pulled out of the school by their families because they don't want their kids to go to the same school as poor kids.

What happened when Malala’s father started opening his school to poor children?

The TNSM were the first people to come to help. The problem with their help was that they wanted them to follow their rules and they said it happened because they weren’t following the islam ways (sharia) and they needed to start following them. They helped rebuild villages, buried bodies, and took in orphans.

When the earthquakes hit Pakistan, who were the first people to come offer help? What was the problem with their help?

They said it was a warning from God and that people needed to introduce the Islamic law

What did the mullahs, or religious leaders, from the TNSM say was the reason the earthquake occurred?

They tell her father that his school is un-islamic because the boys and girls walk through the same gate. (He compromised by saying girls will enter separate from the boys) He said the school is blasphemy because girls attend the school. He said the girls should be in Purdah (seclusion of women from men.)

What does the mufti tell Malala’s father about his school?

Actual schooling- you learn science, math, and history (Like Khushal) 

Madrasa- only learn about religious studies. Only focused on Arabic so that students could recite the Holy Quran- not understanding the meaning of the words. 

What are the two types of education available in Malala’s area? Describe each.

She thinks her school is amazing. “My school is heaven.” “Inside the Khushal school, we flew on the wings of knowledge.”

How does Malala view her school? Cite two pieces of evidence from Chapter 5.

She is the only girl that is able to get a better grade than Malala. This is significant because she made Malala study much harder and made her very determine. It taught her how to be a good loser.

Who is Malka-e-Noor, and why is she significant?

He begs them to stop smoking, listening to music, going to movies, and dancing. He says that if they don’t, God will send another earthquake.

At the beginning of this chapter, what did the Radio Mullah beg his listeners to stop doing? Why?

Many people did not know the scientific reason for earthquakes

How did the Radio Mullah use the people’s lack of education to manipulate them into doing what he wanted?

-Music is haram (forbidden by Islam)

-Men should grow their hair and beards long

-Women should be in purdah (seclusion from men). If they must go out, they must wear a burqa and have a male relative with them 

What general statements did Fazlullah make about music, men’s hair and beards, and purdah?

They were frustrated with the slow, corrupt Pakistani justice system

Why were many people in favor of the Radio Mullah’s idea of bringing back Islamic law?

Malala’s mom enjoyed his sermons, but her father disapproved of him

How did Malala’s mother and father differ in their views of the Radio Mullah?

Maulana Fazlullah; a leader of TNSM ( he was a highschool dropout)

Who was the “Radio Mullah,” and what group was he a leader of?

He would announce the names of sinners on the radio

How did Fazlullah’s attacks become more personal?

The U.S. is fighting a war with al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, in an effort to capture Osama bin Laden, the man who planned 9/11

Why was the U.S. in Afghanistan at this time?

He says the Taliban will reach swat valley one day

What prediction does Malala’s father make about the Taliban?

Fazlullah said girls’ schools were haram- forbidden by the holy Quran. This makes Malala’s school and father a potential target for the Taliban and also threatens their family’s livelihood.

What announcement did Fazlullah make regarding schools for girls? Why would this announcement be especially concerning for Malala and her family?

Polio vaccines, western haircuts, music stores, girls’ schools

The Radio Mullah preached that many things common in Malala’s town were un-Islamic and Western. List at least three things that he preached against.

He persuaded people to donate their jewelry and money

How did Falullah raise money to make bombs and train militants?

They had long hair and beards, wore black turbans and white shalwar kamiz, and carry guns

Describe Fazlullah’s men.

Fazlullah agreed to stop campaigning against polio vaccines and girls’ education and his attacks against government property, and the government would allow his broadcasts to continue.

Describe the conditions of the peace treaty signed by Fazlullah in May 2007.

In Islamabad (the capital of Pakistan), militants took hostages inside the Red mosque (a women's religious school), which prompted a days-long deadly battle with the Pakistani army. Then, Fazlullah declared war on Pakistani government

What happened in July 2007, just two months later?

Women were banned from public places, and men were told to enforce this rule in their families or face punishment

What happened when Fazlullah joined forces with the Pakistani Taliban?

Tvs, DVDs, and CDs

What items were burned in the public square?

They feared someone would hear or see their forbidden TV

Why did Malala’s family move their TV into the closet?

She was afraid the Taliban would see Malala in her school uniform

Why did Malala’s mother insist that Malala never walk to school by herself?

Some girls quit attending, and some teachers would no longer teach girls

What changes occurred at the Khushal school at this time?

People, including police officers and government officials, would be publicly flogged (whipped) or killed. Later, he displayed the dead bodies in the “Bloody Square.”

How did Fazlullah punish those who did not obey his edicts (laws)?

The Taliban and the Pakistani government

What are the two “powerful and dangerous forces” that Malala’s father decided to confront in this chapter?

Most Pashrun men do not ask for their wives’ opinions, but Malala’s parents make decisions together

How was the relationship between Malala’s parents different from most Pashtun couples?

At just 10 years old, Malala was told by a Talib armed with a machine gun that she was bringing shame by not wearing a burqa.

Describe Malala’s face-to-face interaction with the Talib.

They wrote a letter saying that the school is un-islamic because girls attend and the boys wear western uniforms. They tell him to stop, or he “will be in trouble” and “his children will weep and cry for him”

How did the Taliban threaten Malala’s father?

He wrote a letter in the newspaper asking the Taliban not to harm or kill his schoolchildren. He also had the boys change to the traditional uniform of the shalwar kamiz.

How did Malala’s father respond to the Taliban’s threat against his school?

Benazir Bhutto, the former female Prime Minister of Pakistan, was assassinated. This is significant because the killing of women is prohibited by the Pashtunwali code; she was the first woman killed by terrorists.

What happens that makes Malala feel very unsafe in Pakistan? Why was it such a big deal that this event happened?

Malala decides she will fight for peace and democracy in Pakistan. This decision ultimately resulted in Malala becoming a target of the Taliban.

What does Malala decide to do in this chapter? What is the significance of this decision?

When the Pakistani army arrived to battle the Taliban, Fazlullah’s men left Mingora temporarily but returned to battle the army

Who comes to the Swat Valley to help remove the Taliban? Describe what happens after their arrival.

Why does Malala begin spending more time at home?

The Pakistani government imposes a curfew to try to keep citizens safe from the battles

The Taliban fights with guns and bombs-sometimes by remote and sometimes by suicide bombers.

The army uses guns, shelling from helicopters, and cannons fired from mountains

What types of weapons are used by the Taliban and army?

After a year and a half, the fighting stopped, but the army did not win. The Taliban just went into hiding.

How long did the fighting continue? What was the outcome of the fighting in Swat?

They switched off all the cable V channels so that people could only watch the official government TV channel. They also blasted roads and bridges.

How did Fazlullah’s men cut the people of Mingora off from the outside world?

A girls’ school in Matta was blown up; this was significant because it was only a primary school for young children

Malala’s father said it was best to ignore Fazlullah and his sermon; however, one event caused him to say that “the world has gone mad.”  What happened and why was it significant?

Because of war and curfew, Malala sometimes cannot attend school or play outside. Malala’s family now lives in fear, and Malala worries that her own school will be destroyed

How does the war affect Malala’s daily life?

Terroist attacks move closer to Mingora, and members of Moniba’s family are killed by a suicide bomber. Individuals are now targeted and killed by the Taliban

How does the Taliban’s violence intensify in this chapter? (CH 10)

“Terrorism is fear all around you…”

How does Malala describe terrorism? Provide a quote from the book.

200

In 2008 alone, how many schools did the Taliban bomb?

He spoke out against the Taliban and traveled to Islamabad and Peshawar to plead with the government for help.

How did Malala’s father respond to the Taliban’s bombing of schools?

She prayed over her children and planned how they would respond if the Taliban came to their home.

How did Malala’s mother cope with her fear of the Taliban?

Write essays and speeches

What did Madam Maryam and Malala’s father encourage the students to do to express their feelings about the Taliban?

The local TV news crew came to film it. Students were excited, surprised, and nervous.

What happened on the day of the school’s peace rally? How did the students respond to this?

She realized that she was speaking for all the girls who wanted to speak but couldn’t.

What did Malala realize after giving her speech?

Giving speeches in her mirror.

What habit did Malala develop?

She spoke to local and national TV channels, radio, and newspapers.

How did Malala make her voice heard throughout 2008?

Malala didn’t believe that one man could stop 50,000 girls from going to school, but some classmates didn’t think anyone, including the government, would stop him.

What did Malala think of the Taliban’s pronouncement that after January 15, 2009, no girl could go to school? What differing view was expressed by some of Malala’s classmates?

Many took the girls out of school out of concern for their safety.

How did many of the girls’ fathers and brothers respond to the Taliban’s pronouncement? Why?

10

How many of the 27 girls in Malala’s grade continued to attend school?

They pushed back the winter break.

How did the school change its usual plan to maximize the number of days girls could attend school before the 15th of January?

The woman was being “indecent” because she was a dancer.

The man had refused to wear his pants short like the Taliban did.

Why did the Taliban kill the woman and man mentioned in this chapter?

The BBC wanted a teacher or older student to write about living under the control of the Taliban. When no one else agreed to do it, Malala volunteered.

Explain how Malala came to write an online diary for the BBC?

Her parents supported her because they felt God would protect her and believed that “speaking up is the only way things [would] get better.”

How did Malala’s parents feel about her doing the online diary for the BBC?

This kept Malala’s identity a secret.

What was the purpose of using the name Gul Makai for the diary entries?

She thinks about the stories she’s heard about people throwing acid in the faces of girls in Afghanistan.

On Malala’s last day of school, what thought makes her consider going home?

Thinking he was talking to her, she ran home, but when she peeked back at him, she saw that he was talking to someone on the phone.

What happened when Malala heard a man behind her say, "I will kill you"?

She was mad that Malala kept a secret from her.

How did Moniba react when she learned that Malala was the author of the diary?

Malala’s dad reveals her identity when he tells a reporter the same story that Malala wrote about in her diary.

Who accidentally revealed Malala's identity as Gul Makai? How did this happen?

Reporters started following the story of the shutdown of girls’ schools in Pakistan.

What was the result of the diary being published?

Most told her she’d done well but others criticized her for not covering her face.

How did people in Mingora respond to Malala speaking out in the news?

She has done nothing wrong and has no reason to hide, unlike Fazlullah’s men, who wear masks because they are criminals.

What does Malala say is the reason she didn’t cover her face when she spoke on television?

She had started noticing things she didn’t like about herself, like her skin tone, eyebrows, moles, etc.

Why did Malala avoid watching herself on TV?

She said it felt like “going to a funeral.”

How does Malala describe the mood when she and her friends went to school on their last day before the shutdown?

Since her father and brothers had forbidden her to attend school, she had had to wait until they left the house before sneaking out.

Why was one of Malala’s classmates late that day?

They stayed late to play and reminisce.

How did the girls make the most of their last day of school?

It meant a significant loss of income for her family, so Malala’s father struggled to pay rents, utility bills, and teachers’ salaries.

Why was the closing of girls’ schools especially concerning for Malala’s family?

They feel that Swat is their home, and they should stand by her in times of trouble.

Why does Malala’s family decide to stay in Swat, despite the closure of girls’ schools and the ongoing war between the Taliban and Pakistani government?

They didn’t have to cook for their fathers, and they had the freedom to go out without a man and dress however they wanted. Yet, they were still not equal to men as their images were used to sell things.

What did Malala notice about the women in the United States when she watched the Ugly Betty DVD?

They play Army vs. Taliban. It shows that its normal in their lives.

What game do Atal and his friends begin to play? (p.87) Why is this significant?

She says the army was doing nothing, except “looking busy.”

What is Malala’s view of the Pakistani army in light of Fazlullah’s continued attacks?

Fazlullah lifts the ban on girls’ elementary schools and allows girls 10 and younger to go back to school.

How did Fazlullah waiver his ban of girls’ schools?

The girls who were too old (over 10) to go to school still went in secret, wearing everyday clothes.

What was the secret school?

More than ⅓ of the population fled.

What happened in Mingora over the month that schools were closed?

She could have been beaten or killed if she had been caught teaching the older girls.

Why does Malala call Madam Maryam brave?

The government agreed to impose Sharia if the Taliban would stop fighting.

What were the conditions of the peace treaty between the government and the Taliban?

All aspects of life would be dictated by religious judges.

How does Malala explain sharia?

The Taliban allowed all girls to go back to school as long as they covered themselves.

How did the Taliban again adjust their position on girls’ schools?

Malala said she was disappointed because the situation had gotten worse, and she said the government should do more to help. She also said she wasn’t afraid and that she would get her education.

What did Malala say when she was asked her opinion on the peace treaty?