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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 does Mr. Kapur do when he learns that Husain is unable to work?

2. Who does Coomy initially ask for help when Nariman is brought home with an injured ankle?

3. What is the subject of the argument between Roxana and Coomy?

4. Why does Coomy request that Phoola Phoola clean her room first?

5. What does the Chenoy family argue about at supper after returning from Chateau Felicity with Nariman?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the tactics Coomy uses to convince Roxana to let Nariman stay at Roxana's.

2. What jobs does Vilas Rane hold?

3. What effect is Nariman's prolonged stay having on Roxana and Yezad, and what does Nariman tell them to do about it?

4. What choices does Coomy make about caring for Nariman at home and why?

5. Describe the relationship between Nariman and Jehangir.

6. Describe the living conditions for the Chenoy family.

7. What is Yezad's solution when both boys want to sleep on the balcony, and what does it tell you about Yezad's character?

8. What examples can you find in Chapter 4 to prove that Coomy is selfish and only pretends to think of others first?

9. What is the subject of Nariman's flashbacks, and why is mention of his flashbacks important to the story?

10. How has the Chenoy family financial situation affected Murad and Jehangir?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of Kapur's reasons for not running for office is that his wife tells him that service to family comes before service to community. How is this theme carried throughout the story? Do you think Coomy and Roxana would have agreed with her? Why/why not?

Essay Topic 2

Late in the book, Yezad discovers that there are really only two things that matter: religion and family. Show how both elements were important throughout the book to individual characters as well as methods by which Mistry told the story.

Essay Topic 3

When using the good china for Murad's birthday reminds the family that one of Nariman's beliefs was that people should "take pleasure in the beautiful things to defeat the sadness and sorrow of life." How did Nariman live up to that belief? Did any other characters in the story follow his lead? How is that philosophy revealed throughout the story?

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