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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 does the man who starts a fight with Shankar collect for a living?

2. When does the tap in the village run?

3. What does Ashraf's father own, giving both himself and Dukhi work?

4. What has the train hit, causing the delay in transportation?

5. What was Dina's father's occupation?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Maneck say that he is going to college?

2. What happens when Rustom goes out to buy ice cream on his third wedding anniversary?

3. What are Sergeant Kesar and the facilitator sent to the streets to do?

4. What does the officer suggest that Om and Ishvar do in their pursuit of a ration card?

5. What behaviors does Maneck's father begin exhibiting that embarrass his son?

6. How is the village, where the train makes its sudden halt, described?

7. How does the relationship between Dina and Rustom progress?

8. How do Om and Ishvar find shelter after they lose their home in Chapter 7?

9. What happens to Om's trunk of belongings?

10. What does Dina teach Maneck to do in Chapter 8, and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It seems that all of the characters are attempting to find their own independence in the world. Choose one character and explain what they are trying to gain their independence from, the ways that they go about seeking it, and the outcome of the efforts. Do you think that this character's results were worth the efforts?

Essay Topic 2

Three very powerful images within the novel are Dina's quilt, the Beggarmaster's bag of coins, and Maneck's chess set. Choose one of these images and explain what they symbolize within the novel. How does Mistry use these items to convey a particular message to his audience?

Essay Topic 3

There are many different landscapes over which this novel takes place: the mountains, the slums, and the cities. Briefly explain what do you think each of these landscapes represents, and why do you think Mistry chose to set certain events of the novel within each of these landscapes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 619 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample