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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 do the goat herders say are in the woods?

2. For what is Sampath’s boss recruiting some of his employees?

3. How does Sampath know the food his mother cooks him is not poisonous?

4. What does Mr. Chawla do that makes noise when he showers?

5. With what does Mr. Chawla become obsessed?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the problem in Shahkot, India, and what are some of the ways the people think to try and solve the problem?

2. What does the atheist spy decide about Sampath’s food? How does the atheist spy try to investigate it? How does Kulfi’s cooking relate to the number of hours Mr. Chawla allows people to see Sampath?

3. How did Kulfi end up married to Mr. Chawla?

4. What kind of food is Kulfi feeding Sampath, and what does she do in order to cook it?

5. What does Sampath do during the night in Chapter 2? What does he see in the morning? What does his grandmother say to him in the morning?

6. How does Mr. Chawla feel towards Sampath at breakfast in Chapter 3? What does he do, and what is Sampath’s response?

7. What happens at the moment of Kulfi’s baby’s birth?

8. What does Kulfi do when Sampath’s father is talking to him about getting fired? What happens after Sampath takes Kulfi’s offering?

9. In Chapter 7, how does Sampath end up being considered a wise man?

10. Where does Sampath sneak off to during the wedding, and what does he do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How a novel ends can play a big part of the readers’ experience and satisfaction in reading the book.

Do you think most people want a happy ending in a novel? Do you think Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard would qualify as a novel with a happy ending? Why or why not? What do you think are three reasons to read fiction and do you think Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard fulfills these three reasons? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Mr. Chawla likes to have attention--he makes noise and demands to gain the notice not only of his family but of the entire neighborhood. He prides himself in having an important position at the bank. He feels superior to his son, whom he considers a failure with no ambition.

Discuss what Mr. Chawla’s need for attention says about his feelings about himself. Do you think there is a possibility that Mr. Chawla actually feels inferior to most people? Why or why not? How might Mr. Chawla’s need to be noticed relate to how he feels about his son?

Essay Topic 3

People like and dislike books for different and personal reasons.

Analyze and discuss what you think are the characteristics of a successful novel and why Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard is or is not a successful novel based on your criteria. Do you think Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults?

(see the answer keys)

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