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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 kind of swimming pool did Anjum decide to build in Chapter 10?

2. What is the name of Miss Jebeen's mother, according to her grave inscription?

3. What did Zainab do with the crow he found trapped in Chapter 10?

4. On what houseboat did Tilo meet Commander Gulrez in Chapter 9?

5. What does the narrator say that Jainab and Saddam had turned the graveyard into in Chapter 10 (405)?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was indicated by the death of Usman Abdullah in Chapter 9?

2. What is Tilo's connection to the baby that appeared in the streets?

3. Why did Tilo flee in Chapter 8? Who did she enlist to help her?

4. Why was the young Kahmiri boy brought in by Ashfaq Mir in Chapter 8? How is he described?

5. How is the theme of gender expectations explored in Chapter 10?

6. By whom is the letter written that is produced by Dr. Bhartiya in Chapter 10? To whom is the letter addressed?

7. What story did Musa recall telling his daughter in Chapter 9? What was Musa doing as he recalled this memory?

8. What information is contained in the box regarding Amrik Singh in Chapter 8?

9. How is Tilo's mother described? How did Tilo feel about her mother?

10. What are comprised of Musa's "recoveries"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Naga in the novel. What is Naga's relationship to Biplab Dasgupta? What role does Naga play directly in the plot? What becomes of Naga by the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Identify and discuss examples of irony in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. What are examples of verbal irony in the work? What are examples of situational irony? What are examples of dramatic irony?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character of Biplab Dasgupta. Why do you think that this is the only character who has a first-person narrative? How does Biplab Dasgupta further the plot of the novel? What becomes of him by the end of the story?

(see the answer keys)

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