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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 Koly return to the train station after spending a week in Vrindavan?

2. What best describes Koly's bandicoot?

3. Why does the rickshaw driver leave Koly at the train station in the beginning of Chapter 8?

4. How does Koly react when the rickshaw driver tells her that Sass has abandoned her?

5. What job is Koly told she will have in Chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain Sassur's feelings regarding computers.

2. Explain how Tagore is important to Koly in Chapter 9.

3. Describe the room that Koly stays in at Maa Kamala's.

4. Describe Koly's introduction to Maa Kamala's home.

5. What happens on the day that Koly sees the rickshaw driver at the train station, before he brings her to the widow's home?

6. Describe Koly's first night in Vrindavan after Sass abandons her.

7. Who is Mala and what is she like?

8. Explain why Sassur stops reading the Tagore book?

9. Describe Koly's financial situation in Chapter 8.

10. Describe Koly and Sass's first interaction with the rickshaw driver.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

The metaphor of Koly as a homeless bird has significance in many places of the story. Choose one of the options below to write about.

1) Analyze the use of animals in the novel to symbolize Koly's plight, to ease her loneliness, and to serve other purposes.

2) Choose two other characters and use a metaphor to describe their situations in the story. Use examples to explain your choices.

3) Describe how Koly's journey towards freedom required her to break out of many cages.

Essay Topic 3

Loneliness in this story is evident, not only with Koly, but with many characters in Homeless Bird. Choose a character from the story, other than Koly, and answer the following questions:

1) Explain why you believe that loneliness is a motivating factor in this character's decisions or actions.

2) Identify connections that this character makes, refuses to make, or misses out on that could have eased his or her loneliness.

3) What substitutes for human closeness does this character use, and how effective are they?

(see the answer keys)

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