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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the name of Bilquis' second daughter?

2. To where does Farah Zoroaster invite Omar after Eduardo Rodrigues tells her to be nice to the fat 16-year-old boy?

3. The men who visit the women at night in Bariamma's room are sarcastically called what?

4. How old is Sufiya Zinobia when her family moves to Q?

5. After whom does the narrator name the hero of his story?

Short Essay Questions

1. What sort of gossip floats around Farah Zoroaster and Eduardo Rodrigues?

2. In what idea do Raza and Bilquis put an undue amount of faith, and why is this a troublesome belief?

3. What are the lasting effects of Omar's birthday request upon his mothers?

4. Briefly describe why the narrator insists that his novel is not about a real Pakistan, and what would happen to (the story, not the actual book) it if it were.

5. What effect does voyeurism-by-proxy have on Omar's mothers, and what is possibly the consequence of this effect?

6. Why does the narrator appropriate the story of his friend, the poet?

7. What characterizes Omar Khayyam Shakil's early educational experiences?

8. How does Omar Khayyam describe himself to Iskander Harappa, as described at the end of Chapter 1?

9. Of what sort of development is Omar Khayyam Shakil deprived in his formative years?

10. How does Sindbad Mengal meet his fate?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Even without the terrifying monster that lurks within her, Sufiya Zinobia is a character that deserves much consideration. Compose a thoughtful analytical essay on the character of Sufiya Zinobia as an entity separate from the Beast that resides within her. What sort of character is she? How do the other characters interact with her? What sort of feelings does she generally inspire in the people around her? Why might Omar Khayyam Shakil have some legitimacy in his attraction to her? What is her primary significance in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Examine, in a carefully thought-out analytical essay, the usage of the motif of narrative asides employed by the author throughout the book. What do these asides accomplish? How do they add to the story? In what regard does the author use them to the story's benefit? Do they serve any purpose beyond enhancing the imagery and method of the story's delivery?

Essay Topic 3

Compose an insightful essay on the character of Raza Hyder. As one of the principal protagonists of the story's events, what is Raza's overall significance to the story and its main themes? What are his primary character traits and in what actions do they show themselves? Does he in any way change over the course of the story? How do the other characters think of him and act towards him throughout the story? In what ways does he represent universal human nature? Is his character one of virtue? If so, in what ways, and if not, in what ways?

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