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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. Each month after Hari's death, an envelope arrives in the mail for Koly. What is it?

2. What does Koly think of the cake at the traditional feast?

3. Why is a doctor called on Hari's first night in Varanasi?

4. What do Sass and Koly do when they go to the village one week after Hari's death?

5. Where does Chandra's wedding sari come from?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain what Koly's daydreams consist of in Chapter 4, after Hari's death.

2. Describe the events that lead up to an envelope with Koly's name arriving at the Mehta's house each month.

3. How is Hari's death addressed?

4. Describe Koly's first morning as a married woman.

5. Explain how Koly's parents earn income for the family.

6. Describe Koly's first meetings with her new family.

7. Explain how Hari and Koly bond in their short first meeting.

8. Explain why Hari and his parents are arguing on Koly's second night in her new home.

9. What happens when Koly and the Mehtas arrive in Varanasi that indicates that Mr. and Mrs. Mehta are embarrassed that they married Hari so young and for the money?

10. What is Koly's relationship with Sassur like in Chapter 4, after Hari's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Despite the obvious poor treatment of women in Koly's society, many strong and even influential women appear in the novel. Answer the questions below with support from the novel.

1) Which woman in the story do you consider the strongest, and why?

2) Which woman in the story has the greatest positive impact on Koly? Negative?

3) Which woman in the story seems the happiest? The saddest?

Essay Topic 2

Consider the use of irony and foreshadowing with the following events:

1) Sass's abandonment of Koly.

2) Koly's desire to run away from her marriage and from Sass's home.

3) Sassur's decision to break tradition and teach Koly to read.

Essay Topic 3

The children in Koly's culture are expected to grow up and take on adult roles at a very young age.

1) Give two examples that show that Koly is not mature enough to handle the situations she finds herself in.

2) Give two examples that show that Koly is mature enough to handle the situations she finds herself in.

3) Give at least two examples that show the adults in the story are unable to handle the situations they find themselves in.

How much impact do age, maturity, experience, and character have in determining a person's ability to deal with adversity?

(see the answer keys)

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