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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 the Uplift Master's father do for a living?

2. When was Rune's birthday?

3. How old was Philipose's father when he died?

4. How old is JoJo when Ammachi marries his father?

5. How many hours does Ammachi's husband walk after going to get Ammachi's mother?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Big Ammachi learn about her mother and daughter when she goes to see Dr. Rune Orqvist?

2. How does Philipose begin reading Moby Dick?

3. In 1903, what does Ammachi get to read?

4. What happens after Jeb's death?

5. How does JoJo die?

6. What is Mahabalipuram?

7. How does Big Appachen get sick a few weeks after Philipose is born?

8. What greets Ammachi when she wakes for the first time in Parambil?

9. Why does Ammachi's groom walk away when he sees her at their wedding, and why does he return?

10. Why did Digby decide to go to India?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Novels can be structured and divided in different ways. How does the structure of a novel provide clarity and flow to a story? What are chapter titles? What are some purposes of chapter titles? How does Verghese use chapter titles in The Covenant of Water?

Essay Topic 2

Digby feels great shame after the fire that kills Celeste. Why does Digby feel guilt and shame, and how does he learn to deal with his guilt and shame?

Essay Topic 3

An allusion is a figure of speech that does not directly refer to a person, place, or thing. What are some allusions in The Covenant of Water? Why might it be difficult to decipher an allusion just by the context of a passage in a book? How do the allusions Verghese uses help readers’ understanding of people, events, or concepts in the book?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 861 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample