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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 best describes the Nawab's palace during the narrator's first visit?

2. Who gives Olivia's letters to Marcia?

3. Who volunteers to take the narrator to the Nawab's palace in Khatm for the first time?

4. What do Karim and his friends think about the narrator's plans to visit India?

5. What does Harry tell the narrator and Mrs. Crawford about his mother in Section 15?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain how the narrator tells Chid and Inder Lal about her pregnancy in Section 28.

2. Describe the narrator's room in Satipur City.

3. Describe Dr. Saunders' opinion of Olivia in Section 35.

4. Is the narrator helping Chid when she lets him stay with her in Section 14?

5. How does Olivia feel about her pregnancy in Section 32?

6. How do Ritu's screams and Chid's chants affect the narrator in Section17?

7. Is Chid a tolerant person?

8. Describe Olivia and Douglas's relationship in Section 23.

9. Does the narrator trust Maji?

10. Why does Inder Lal's mother take Ritu on the pilgrimage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many minor characters in Heat and Dust have an important role in the story and a huge impact on other characters. Choose characters below and discuss the impact or the role that this person has on other characters in the novel.

1) Harry.

2) Maji.

3) Ritu.

4) Mrs. Saunders.

Essay Topic 2

The use of religion and culture to justify a character's actions occurs in different ways in Heat and Dust.

1) Find 3 incidences of these occurrences and discuss their impact on the story.

2) Explain the differing attitudes toward abortion that are seen in the story.

3) Choose a character from the novel and explain how he or she is judged based on that person's religious or cultural beliefs.

Essay Topic 3

The relationships explored in Heat and Dust span generations, cultures and bloodlines. Of course, the connection between Olivia and the narrator is intriguing as they are not related by blood, and will never meet, yet Olivia's life is having a strong impact on the narrator's. Analyze the following aspects of this unique relationship.

1) Is Olivia a good person? Is the narrator?

2) Is it disloyal of the narrator to give so much attention and energy to the woman who betrayed her grandfather?

3) How would the story be different if the narrator was able to meet Olivia?

(see the answer keys)

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