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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 did Mira give the children that their own parents did not?

2. In her mind, what does Bim compare Bakul and Tara, the Misras, Raja and his family to?

3. What does Tara see in Bim that she never saw before?

4. Which of the children grew up to become exactly what they said they wanted to be as a child?

5. At what age was Aunt Mira widowed?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Tara remember the incident when Bim was stung by bees?

2. What is symbolic about Tara holding Bim's hand on the day of their departure?

3. How does Bim see their childhood?

4. What is the symbolism the author is relaying when she describes childhood games where the sisters are never able to catch their older brother?

5. Why does Bim resist everything Tara says and mocks Bakul's words?

6. Why is Bakul so shocked when Bim says she has made a decision?

7. Describe Raja in Bim's eyes until this chapter begins.

8. How did Bim remember the incident where she was stung by bees?

9. What is the symbolism of Tara's words to Bim pouring out of her quickly on the day of her departure?

10. Why does Tara fail so miserably in school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the predominant themes of this novel and explore how the author presented the theme via dialogue, symbolism, characters, etc.

Essay Topic 2

Read the paragraphs following the moment that Tara, Bakul and the girls leave the family home and Bim and Baba are left sitting on the veranda in the light. How the symbolism and theme of the entire novel represented there?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 564 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample