Taliban Violence and Personal Experiences

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Questions and Answers

Under the Taliban regime described in the excerpt, what was the most pervasive psychological impact on the narrator and her community?

Apathy and indifference towards the ongoing violence due to its frequency.
A constant state of fear and anxiety that permeated everyday activities and home life. (correct)
Outward compliance with Taliban regulations coupled with secret acts of defiance and resistance.
Resignation to the new norms and a gradual acceptance of the Taliban's rules as a way of life.

The Taliban's bombing of the primary school at night, when it was empty, suggests which of the following strategic aims, beyond immediate casualties?

To instill widespread fear and disrupt the community's sense of safety and normalcy, targeting the symbolic value of education. (correct)
To minimize civilian casualties while maximizing infrastructural damage to educational institutions.
To ensure that only male students would be affected by the attacks, thereby adhering to their gender-based ideology.
To provide a warning to the community, signaling their growing power and control without causing direct harm to children.

The recurring pattern of bombings followed by power outages described in the excerpt most likely served what dual purpose for the Taliban?

To create confusion and impede rescue efforts after attacks, while also limiting access to information and communication. (correct)
To ensure complete darkness for conducting further attacks under the cover of night and to disable security systems.
To maximize infrastructural damage by targeting both buildings and power grids simultaneously in coordinated assaults.
To signal the end of their operations for the day and to enforce a curfew by cutting off electricity to residential areas.

Considering the narrator's reaction of praying for the children who lost their school and for the protection of her own, what primary coping mechanism is highlighted in the face of terror?

Seeking solace and comfort through religious faith and prayer in a time of uncertainty. (D) Signup and view all the answers

The progression of attacks described – from schools in Matta to stores, roads, bridges, and eventually closer to the narrator's house – indicates which of the following Taliban strategies?

A systematic campaign to expand their zone of control and instill fear by progressively encroaching upon civilian life. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Based on the excerpt, which of the following best describes the Taliban's approach to media and information control?

Restricting access to external media by shutting down cable channels and controlling the remaining sources of information. (A) Signup and view all the answers

The description of the funeral attack involving a suicide bomber reveals which critical evolution in the Taliban's tactics compared to the initial school bombing?

A shift towards targeting large gatherings of people to maximize casualties and societal disruption. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Considering the restrictions placed on women mentioned in the excerpt – 'not allowed to have love affairs and cover their hair' – what broader ideological principle of the Taliban does this exemplify?

An interpretation of religious teachings that strictly controls women's public and private lives, limiting their autonomy. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Before the escalation of Taliban violence, the narrator and her brother wished to 'relax once they were home'. In the context of the subsequent events, this simple desire highlights which profound consequence of terrorism?

The destruction of the private sphere and the loss of home as a sanctuary of peace and safety. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Taken together, the bombing of schools, restrictions on media, and the funeral attack best illustrate the Taliban's intention to establish what kind of societal order?

A society governed by fear and intimidation, suppressing dissent and enforcing strict ideological control across all aspects of life. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Taliban regime

A militant group imposing strict Islamic laws in Pakistan.

Daily life under Taliban

Life marked by fear and restrictions, especially for women.