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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. When Mariamma sees Lenin at Saint Bridget's, how long has it been since they have seen one another?

2. How old was Lenin when he was sent to a strict religious boarding school?

3. How long does it take to reach the train station in Punalur when Philipose hires a tourist taxi to take him and Mariamma there?

4. What is Dr. Ramasamy's field of study?

5. How many notebooks does Mariamma have that her father wrote in?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mariamma think Lenin should have done instead of joini the Naxalites?

2. In Mariamma's anatomy class, who is the teacher?

3. Where does Lenin go after his family dies, and why is he sent to Parambil?

4. What is the exam like after Mariamma spends over a year of studying the body?

5. In 1950, how many funerals has Big Ammachi attended?

6. How is Lizzi injured by her husband, and how does Digby help her and the baby?

7. How does Mariamma learn that Philipose was not her father?

8. How does Joppan lose his barge business?

9. How is money raised for a hospital in Parambil?

10. What happens after Brijee Sarkar harasses Mariamma?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

An epiphany is a realization that can be enlightening and help solve a situation or problem. What epiphany does Mariamma have regarding her mission in life? How does the epiphany help her decide she wants to be a doctor.

Essay Topic 2

An analogy is the comparison of an unfamiliar object or idea to a familiar one in an attempt to explain the unfamiliar or to help readers understand characters, events, or concepts. What are some analogies Verghese uses in The Covenant of Water? How do these analogies help readers comprehend characters, events, or concepts?

Essay Topic 3

Imagery is a literary device authors use to describe characters in a narrative and the world they inhabit. Imagery involves using the five senses to describe characters, places, and things. How does Verghese use imagery to help readers imagine the world where characters live in The Covenant of Water?

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