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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 pursues the Tulsi chickens?

2. What author does Mr. Biswas favor during the period of time when working conditions at "The Sentinel" become extremely stressful?

3. Whom does Owad snub when he returns home?

4. What political party has Owad become involved with while overseas?

5. Which newspaper offers Mr. Biswas a job?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Mr. Biswas' new job with the Community Welfare Department.

2. How does Shama assist with the repairs to the new house?

3. How does Mrs. Tulsi's return to Arwacas affect the family left in Port of Spain?

4. How does the Deserving Destitutes Fund cause hardship for Mr. Biswas?

5. How does Mr. Biswas get his first job for the "Trinidad Sentinel?"

6. How do Mr. Biswas and other members of the Tulsi family end up living in the Port of Spain house for a second time?

7. How do the school examinations affect the children of the Tulsi household?

8. Who is the "Scarlet Pimpernel", and why are the islanders looking for him?

9. How do Owad's communist views affect the Tulsi family?

10. Describe the estate at Shorthills.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the influence the rise of colonialism and had on the characters after World War II. How do the characters feel about their society before the war? What effect does colonialism have on the characters' attitudes towards their own society? How do the characters use colonialism to their advantage?

Essay Topic 2

Collectivism and individualism are two opposing philosophies in the book. Compare and contrast each philosophy and how it affects the characters in the book? Which philosophy is prevalent in the beginning of the book? By the end? What opinion might the author be trying to express about collectivism versus individualism?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the influence the farming venture at Shorthills had on the characters in the novel. What influenced the Tulsi family to try farming? What factors lead to the farm's demise? How does the failure of the farm affect the characters?

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