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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. When does Om want to spy on Dina, an idea which infuriates Maneck?

2. Where is the bump that grows on the Beggarmaster and his newly found relatives' bodies, proving their relation to one another?

3. Which relatives does Maneck visit in Chapter 14 before he leaves on vacation?

4. Who is Mr.Valmik?

5. How does Nusswan feel about having Dina back in his home at the end of the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the Beggarmaster know that he is related to Shankar?

2. How does it come to pass that the tailors begin eating dinner in the main house?

3. What happens to Rajaram that prompts him to leave his job at the government?

4. How does Ibrahim react after Dina's apartment is destroyed?

5. How is the Beggarmaster killed?

6. Why does the Beggarmaster leave Shankar on the streets even after it is revealed that they are brothers?

7. How is Shankar killed?

8. Why does Dina go to speak to Mrs. Gupta and what does she tell her?

9. How do the established workers at the relocation camp treat the newcomers?

10. Why does Rajaram want to move to the Himalayas?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Because of the imbalance of power seen within the novel, many characters end up being victims of one abuse or another.

Part 1.) Choose one character who is seen as a victim in the novel and explain the ways that they were abused by their surroundings and explain the ways that you have seen these abuses affect the characters progression in life. How deeply were they affected?

Part 2.) Explain the ways that this character will later go on to abuse others. How does this highlight the "Circle is Complete" theme within the novel? Or, if you do not believe that this character perpetuated any abuse, explain how you think this character broke the cycle?

Essay Topic 2

The "Emergency" is a very powerful force of destruction within the novel.

Part 1.) Briefly explain what the state of Emergency within the novel was.

Part 2.) Explain the catastrophic results this state of Emergency had on the lives of the main characters.

Part 3.) Explain why you think calling the situation an emergency was validated within the novel.

Essay Topic 3

When Maneck commits suicide at the end of the novel, his final thought is that he is happy to be holding the chess board. This thought is a bit ambiguous as to whether Maneck is feeling guilt, or if he is overwhelmed with the way that the world has turned out.

Part 1.) Argue what you believe to be the meaning to Maneck's final thoughts.

Part 2.) Argue why you think it was so important to Maneck that he is holding the chess board, especially after he spent years not taking care of it, or missing its presence.

(see the answer keys)

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