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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. To which police officer does Fatima make a report against Zehrunisa?

2. With which of the following does the book associate January?

3. With what does Fatima burn herself?

4. To which of the following is Fatima compared?

5. In which of the following do the Husains hope to live?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Asha balk at her political supervisor’s request for an area meeting?

2. Why does Abdul think his heart is too small?

3. Why does Abdul regard the improvements to his family home as unwise?

4. Why is Avinash unsuitable to be a slumlord?

5. What story does Abdul fabricate about being inside a hotel?

6. Why do the recycling plant owners wear white?

7. Why does Adarsh like to stay out late?

8. Why does Asha attempt to intervene between Zehrunisa and Fatima?

9. What does Asha mean when she tells a petitioner to go to a temple and pray?

10. How does Asha’s self-help group scheme work?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Readerly attention focuses on the following comment: “India still made a person know his place, and wishing things different struck Abdul as a childish pastime, like trying to write your name in a bowl of melted kulfi” (15). What might attract attention thereto, and why might it do so?

Essay Topic 2

To what other writer’s work in your experience does Boo’s seem most similar? What makes the writers similar? What differentiates them? Overall, which do you regard as doing better at the craft of writing, and why?

Essay Topic 3

What character is the protagonist of Behind the Beautiful Forevers? How does the book support such an assertion?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 525 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample