What is the significance of Hassan's question about Amir's story?

• A. It foreshadows Amir's future ambitions.
• B. It reveals Hassan's disregard for Baba.
• C. It shows their bond is weak and destined to fail.
• D. It functions as a metaphor for Amir's longing for Baba's love and how that longing shapes his life and harms Hassan.

Answer: (D)

The key idea this question tests is how a character’s longing for a parent’s love shapes their choices and relationships. When Hassan asks to hear Amir’s story about Baba, that moment becomes a symbol of Amir’s deep need to be seen and valued by Baba. Amir measures his worth and his success by Baba’s approval, so he seeks ways to earn that love, sometimes at the cost of honesty or loyalty. That longing influences his behavior toward Hassan—he withholds loyalty or acts to protect his own standing with Baba rather than defend his friend when it matters most. In this light, the question shows how Amir’s pursuit of Baba’s love drives life-altering decisions that ultimately harm Hassan, setting up the moral and emotional consequences that unfold later.