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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. Where does Bakul think he and Tara should have stayed instead of at her family home?

2. When Bim and Baba return from Hyder Ali Sahib's house, what has happened?

3. What disrupts the neighborhood gathering?

4. What helps Raja to begin to get better?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Bim believes she is seeing Aunt Mira's ghost in the garden?

2. Why does the tea party with Dr. Biswas, his mother and Bim go badly?

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

4. Why does Raja refuse to take over the family business?

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

6. 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?

7. What is the importance in the plot of the Misras brother, Mulk, and his drunkeness

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

9. What resulted from Raja's admiration of Hyder Ali Sahid?

10. Why does Tara begin to spend time with the Misras sisters?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One evening along the Jumna River, the children encounter Hyder Ali Sahib on a horse. It affects each of them differently. Describe how the event was experienced by 1) Raja, 2) Baba, 3) Bim and 4) Tara.

Essay Topic 2

Raja admires Hyder Ali Sahib from the moment he first sees him. How did Hyder Ali Sahib's attention to the young Hindi man affect Raja's life?

Essay Topic 3

Why is Bim so afraid at the last that Tara will take Baba with them to Raja's house?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 642 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample