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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. Who is Aanchal's boyfriend?

2. What is Faiz worried about paying in Part IV?

3. What deal do Runu and Jai make in Part III?

4. What rumor is going around about the third child to disappear?

5. What does Faiz say evil djinns are sometimes called?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do some people change their minds about the kidnappings being done by Muslims in Part IV?

2. What are the rumors Jai starts hearing about Aanchal?

3. What does Jai think about the T.V.-repair chacha?

4. Why is Papa increasingly frustrated with Jai in Part IV?

5. What does Jai do to earn back the money for the parachute tin, and how does this endeavor start?

6. What news does Shanti-Chachi bring to Jai's household early in Part III that upsets everyone?

7. What does Runu-Didi tell Jai about why someone is stealing so many children, and how does he react?

8. Who does Jai encounter while working at Duttaram's and how does he think this creature will help with his detective work?

9. Why is Aanchal's mobile phone of such interest to her family and to Jai, Pari, and Faiz?

10. What is Faiz worried about when Tariq-Bhai is arrested?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Seen through Jai's eyes, there are still many unanswered questions about the motives and aftermath of the kidnappings and of the confessed perpetrator, Varun. Why do you think Anappara maintains this ambiguity concerning the details of the kidnappings and suspected murders? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

In the author's Afterward, Anappara offers some deeply personal details about her own family life, background, and professional experiences that informed the writing of this, her debut novel. Write an essay explaining how reading Anappara's Afterward affected the way you, as a reader, understood this novel.

Essay Topic 3

Why do you think Anappara chooses to begin this novel with the story of Mental and the supposed ability of his ghost to save children from terrible fates? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 763 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample