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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Deepavali?
(a) The anniversary of the tannery's opening.
(b) The Festival of Lights.
(c) The temple's most holy day.
(d) The celebration of the village's settlement.

2. After the marriage, Rukmani sees her new home. What is it like?
(a) It is a two-room, mud hut.
(b) It is a two-room, brick house.
(c) It is a four-bedroom house.
(d) It is a straw lean-to.

3. When Arjun and Thambi leave for Ceylon, what is Rukmani afraid of?
(a) The perils they will face on their journey.
(b) Never seeing her sons again.
(c) The working conditions they will see.
(d) That they will marry without her blessing.

4. After learning that Nathan killed a cobra, Kali disagrees with his action. Why?
(a) Kali belives that killed cobras are reincarnated as evil people.
(b) Cobras are good luck.
(c) Kali believes that cobras are sacred.
(d) Cobras are territorial and now many more will come to the garden.

5. Who is the moneylender?
(a) Hanuman.
(b) Biswas.
(c) Kali.
(d) Janaki.

6. What is the village doctor's name?
(a) Indira.
(b) Archibold.
(c) Biswas.
(d) Kennington.

7. How old is Rukmani's daughter when her first son is finally born?
(a) Ten.
(b) Three.
(c) Seven.
(d) Five.

8. Rukmani is keeping a secret from her husband. What is her secret?
(a) She is seeing Kenny romantically.
(b) She is seeing Kenny for fertility treatments.
(c) She lost a child before their son was born.
(d) She is working in the village to earn extra money.

9. How much money is in Ira's dowry?
(a) One hundred rupees.
(b) One thousand rupees.
(c) Fifty rupees.
(d) Three hundred rupees.

10. How old is Rukmani when she marries Nathan?
(a) Fourteen.
(b) Eighteen.
(c) Twelve.
(d) Twenty.

11. What do Nathan's sons do on their one day off from the tannery each week?
(a) They work with Nathan in the fields.
(b) They travel to the nearby village to see their friends.
(c) They help their mother with household chores.
(d) They spend their time in the local tavern.

12. As the story opens, what is Rukmani dreaming of?
(a) Ira's upcoming wedding.
(b) Seeing her new grandchildren.
(c) Moving back to the city.
(d) Nathan being with her.

13. Rukmani and two other women take turns helping Kunthi. Why?
(a) Kunthi refuses to care for her children.
(b) Kunthi is quite ill.
(c) Kunthi is lame and cannot walk.
(d) Kunthi is near the end of her pregnancy and unable to do anything for herself.

14. What fruit does Rukmani first grow that earns Nathan's praise?
(a) A mango.
(b) A kiwi.
(c) A pumpkin.
(d) An orange.

15. While the local shops struggle, one business flourishes. Which business is doing just fine?
(a) The tannery.
(b) The inn.
(c) The tavern.
(d) The hospital.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Nathan do ten days after the birth of his son?

2. Why do Janaki and her husband leave the village?

3. How does Nathan characterize Rukmani?

4. Nathan hangs a garland of mango leaves across the doorway to welcome Rukmani to her new house. What do the mango leaves symbolize?

5. How long is Rukmani in the Nathan's village before finally meeting some of the other women?

(see the answer keys)

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