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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 do Bim and the old man discuss?

2. What did Baba play with before the gramophone?

3. The sisters remember playing in the sand and along the banks of what nearby river?

4. Who does Raja suggest to take over the family business?

5. Who is asleep on the veranda when Bakul, Bim and Tara return home?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Tara so disturbed by Bim's remarks on the lawn with Bakul and the Misras?

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

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

4. Why do the children think of their father as the master of the entrance and the exit?

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

6. Why is Bim's conversation with the elder Misras important to the plot?

7. What is the difference between the languages of Urdu and Hindi?

8. Why does Raja leave Bim alone to care for Baba?

9. How is Old Delhi different from New Delhi? Re-read the parts describing the city and note the words the author uses. Do the words create a sense of place?

10. How does Bim describe time? What do you think she means by this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Tara and Bim are sisters, but their personalities are very different. Describe each of the sisters and compare them in the following ways:

1) visions of the future

2) learning and school

3) handling adversity

4) finding love and happiness in their lives

Essay Topic 3

When Raja and Bim are children, they are close, best friends. As he ages, Raja turns away from Bim, until he finally leaves her. Describe the evolution of this relationship, and your explanation for Raja's decision to leave the family home?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 541 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample