View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the rickshaw driver at the train station tell Koly?

2. What do Koly and the women at the widow's home sometimes do after dinner?

3. What does Koly say she hopes will happen if she works very hard after Chandra leaves to get married?

4. What does Koly think of her first job in Vrindavan?

5. What is true of Sassur after Chandra leaves to get married?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the two friends that Koly finds in Chapter 6.

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

3. Describe Raji's plans for the future as he describes them to Koly in Chapter 9.

4. How does the rickshaw driver help Koly in Chapter 8?

5. Describe Koly's first day of work stringing marigolds.

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

7. Explain why the benefactor funds the widow's home where Koly stays.

8. Describe the losses Koly attempts to deal with in Chapter 6.

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

In this novel, Koly is a part of many traditions, but she also acts in ways that are contrary to traditions of the time and place.

1) How do Koly's actions support a belief that traditions are important? Give at least three examples and justify your answer.

2) How do Koly's actions support a belief that traditions are less important than some other value in her life? Define that value and support your answer.

3) How does Koly's acceptance or rejection of certain traditions help or hurt her in the story? Give at least three examples with evidence.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,168 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample