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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 Bakul say to Tara when she decides to stay with her family that morning instead of going with him to New Delhi?

2. How does the richness of Hyder Ali's home compare to Raja's home?

3. What surrounds Tara's family home and those of her neighbors?

4. What does Mulk accuse his sisters of doing to him?

5. What helps Raja to begin to get better?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think the children's parents are at the club playing bridge every night?

2. What are some of the basic differences between Tara and Bim? Examine their appearance, their attitudes, their sense of family.

3. Describe Aunt Mira's behavior in this chapter.

4. Why is Raja so upset about the whereabouts of the family of Hyder Ali Sahid?

5. Why does Dr. Biswas feel a sense of failure after talking to Bim about Raja's tuberculosis?

6. Describe Bakul's appearance and behavior, and discuss his attitude towards his work and towards his wife.

7. Describe how Bim sees her brother's poems now.

8. How does Bim feel about her youth? Why do you think she feels that way?

9. Why does Bim begin to respond to Dr. Biswas and his invitations to take her out?

10. Why are Muslims no longer safe in India? What has caused this problem?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

This novel is set over a number of years, but almost always in summer. How does the author use the oppressive heat, the wild noisy birds, and the overgrown foliage to create imagery and the feeling of heavy weight on her characters, their actions and their decisions?

Essay Topic 2

Describe Aunt Mira and her life. Compare her life before she moves into the family home, and afterwards. Discuss the sacrifices she has made, and the rewards received by dedicating her life to the four children.

Essay Topic 3

What is the symbolism of the cow in the plot? Does it represent the innocence of the children, the indentured servitude of Aunt Mira, lost hopes, or is it just a cow?

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This section contains 657 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample