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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. Why does receiving an aerogramme from Papa irritate Arun?

2. Where does Arun work?

3. Where is Arun's father hoping Arun can continue his education?

4. What does Mrs. Patton say she and Arun can do together?

5. What does Arun do when Melanie responds to seeing him in the woods?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Melanie say in Chapter 25 about her mother's sunbathing?

2. What is Arun's reaction to his first trip to the grocery store with Mrs. Patton?

3. How does Uma seem different from the other guests at Mrs. O’Henry’s?

4. What does Uma say about Mira-Masi?

5. What does Arun receive from Uma before he moves out of the Patton home?

6. How do Mama and Papa respond to Uma's outburst in Chapter 12?

7. What does Arun begin doing and why?

8. How has Mrs. Patton changed over the course of the summer?

9. What is Rod Patton like?

10. What does Mrs. Joshi suggest that Uma consider, and what are Uma's thoughts about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss three of the following:

a) Fully explain why you think Fasting, Feasting is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

b) How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book?

c) Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content?

d) Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

a) What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

b) Analyze and discuss Fasting, Feasting based upon the criteria you decide upon in a.) and judge if it is a successful novel.

c) Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider Fasting, Feasting a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

a) Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Will Desai. What in Desai's background may have helped her in writing Fasting, Feasting? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

b) Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

c) What does the term "author agenda" mean?

d) Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Desai's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Desai's probable agenda concerning that idea.

e) Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface? Why or why not?

f) How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author? Explain your answer with examples.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 960 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample