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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. Who is the new owner of Salim's store and why did that happen?

2. What has become of Kareisha, Nazruddin's daughter whom Salim feared he might have to marry?

3. How does Salim see Raymond and Yvette after reading Raymond's articles?

4. What surprising action does the President take for the town?

5. What news does Salim get from Uganda?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Salim get away from the local situation for a while?

2. What has become of Indar?

3. How does Salim react to Nazruddin's letter from Uganda?

4. Explain the basis for Indar's depression.

5. Explain Zabeth's concern for her son Ferdinand.

6. How does the situation in the town deteriorate after the Youth Guard is disbanded?

7. How does Indar's behavior on the steamer show that he is not as sure of himself as he told Salim he was?

8. Why does Indar think moving African intellectuals around the continent would be good for Africa?

9. Why do Indar and Ferdinand both board the steamer at the same time?

10. What encouragement did a woman lecturer give Indar in England?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper on the development of Ferdinand from the time he was sixteen-years-old until last seen in the novel as a young government official. Explain how Naipaul makes those changes and give your opinion as to how accurate he is in doing so.

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper about means of travel in the novel. Include the advantages and disadvantages of each. What method of travel in the novel seems most reliable? State your reasons for selecting that means as opposed to the others.

Essay Topic 3

At the end of the novel, Salim is leaving the town and it is inferred he will return to London and marry Kareisha. The marriage arrangement was tacitly made years ago when Nazruddin sold his store in the town at a loss. Write your opinion of arranged marriages as opposed to the western way of dating before marriage.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 758 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample