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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Deven feel he has been made "custodian of" (204) at the end of the novel?
(a) Nur's soul and spirit.
(b) Murad's success.
(c) The Urdu language.
(d) His wife's happiness.

2. What does the old woman agree to do for Deven at the end of Chapter 7?
(a) Put in a good word for him at the college.
(b) Arrange for him to meet with Nur in private.
(c) Tell his wife he has not been cheating on her.
(d) Pay Deven for his time and trouble.

3. Why are there so many people at Nur's when Deven visits after purchasing the tape recorder?
(a) Imtiaz is having a baby.
(b) Imtiaz is sick.
(c) Everyone wants to see a tape recorder.
(d) Nur's fans want to watch Deven interview him.

4. What does Nur tell Deven has happened to him because of their interview?
(a) He has been unable to get out of bed.
(b) His wife left him.
(c) He has become even more famous.
(d) He needs cataract surgery.

5. Who is Safiya Begum?
(a) Nur's first wife.
(b) Deven's mother-in-law.
(c) Murad's mother.
(d) Siddiqui's mother.

6. Why does Siddiqui tell Deven he cannot give up on his interview with Nur?
(a) This could be Deven's chance to find better paying work.
(b) Deven should not let his friend Murad down.
(c) Siddiqui expects that the interview will do great things for the Urdu department.
(d) The school has already paid for the tape recording.

7. How long has Deven been trying to interview Nur by the time Murad calls and tells him to wrap it up?
(a) 6 days.
(b) 6 weeks.
(c) 3 weeks.
(d) 1 month.

8. What does Deven tell Nur his fans come to his house to do?
(a) Suck the life from him.
(b) Steal his food and drink.
(c) Steal his poetry and ideas.
(d) Hear Nur, not Imtiaz.

9. What does Siddiqui tell Deven a mutual acquaintance of theirs named Faiz is doing in Beirut?
(a) Living the poet's life.
(b) Editing an Urdu magazine.
(c) Running a college.
(d) Teaching Biology.

10. Why does Deven leave Siddiqui to the task of requesting funds for the tape recorder?
(a) Because Siddiqui is well-liked at the school.
(b) Because Deven has no idea how to go about doing it.
(c) Because the registrar dislikes Deven.
(d) Because they are more likely to fund the Urdu department than the Hindi department.

11. What is happening at Siddiqui's house when Deven goes to see him in Chapter 11?
(a) Nur is doing a poetry reading.
(b) Siddiqui had thrown Deven a surprise party.
(c) Someone else is living there.
(d) It is being demolished.

12. What shape is Deven's house in when he finally arrives after he has been away interviewing Nur?
(a) It is exactly as he left it.
(b) It is completely empty.
(c) It is covered in dust and stinks of garbage.
(d) It appears to have been robbed.

13. What do Dhanu and his friends tell Deven when they run into him at the end of Chapter 11?
(a) They thank him for the good grades.
(b) To meet them behind the school and see what they will do to him.
(c) They tell him he was their favorite professor.
(d) They say they can help him any time he needs technical assistance.

14. What does Deven's host do with the basket of fruit he brings her to show his gratitude?
(a) She serves it that evening with dinner.
(b) She gives it to monks.
(c) She bakes a cake.
(d) She gives it back to Deven.

15. What final request does Nur send to Deven in a letter in Chapter 11?
(a) Arrange for him a pilgrimage to Mecca.
(b) Adopt his son.
(c) Help him get rid of Imtiaz.
(d) Write his memoirs.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is Dhanu?

2. Why does the college Deven works for have an Urdu department?

3. What does Deven do as Imtiaz argues with Nur, telling him to recite to his friends while she lay dying?

4. Why does Siddiqui order most of his meals from restaurants?

5. Why does Deven call Murad in a panic not long after he arrives to meet Nur for the interview?

(see the answer keys)

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