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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 Om rent in an attempt to follow Dina Dalal?

2. What did Om used to massage for his father?

3. Why is Dina annoyed with Maneck after his first day of classes?

4. What does Dina padlock the door to protect?

5. After meeting with Rustom, how does Nusswan feel about his sister's impending marriage?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. In Chapter 7, what happens to the slums that Om and Ishvar are living in?

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

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

5. How does Maneck's father, Farokh, treat his soft-drink recipe?

6. What happens after Om is hit by the car while following Dina's taxi?

7. How is Dina Dalal's home described?

8. How do Ishvar and Om meet Maneck?

9. What does Dina's collection of cloth symbolize?

10. How do the passengers on the train react to the sudden halt in their travel?

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

The worm that Om is carrying around inside him is a powerful symbol for the way that communities, and people, within this novel leech off of each other.

Part 1.) Explain the worm's symbolism, and give examples from the text that support this claim.

Part 2.) Explain the way that Om's life changes after the worm is removed from his body. What message was Mistry was sending with this change?

Part 3.) Rajaram is portrayed as a parasitic character within the novel. Explain the ways that he feeds off of other characters, and explain the ways that his life, like both Om's and the worm's, changes by the end of the novel.

Essay Topic 3

The idea of family planning and sterilization is a constant theme within the novel.

Part 1.) Explain what reasons you think the government has for wanting to sterilize villagers.

Part 2.) Explain the ways that the sterilization project spun completely out of control and the catastrophic effects that it had on individuals as well as communities. Were these outcomes intended?

Part 3.) Choose two characters and explain the ways that sterilization project most affected. How might their lives have been different if the sterilization project had never been approved by the government?

(see the answer keys)

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