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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which department at the college is more likely to receive funding?
(a) Science.
(b) Urdu.
(c) Hindi.
(d) Anthropology.

2. What does Nur tell Deven in the postcard Sarla gives him at the start of Chapter 8?
(a) He would like to make time for an interview.
(b) He does not think Deven should visit anymore.
(c) He thinks Deven is the next great Urdu poet.
(d) He has new poems he would like to recite to him.

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

4. What does Imtiaz tell Deven and Nur while she is in bed sick in Chapter 7?
(a) She has suffered after performing in public and she fears the same for Nur.
(b) If Nur recites his memoirs to Deven she will leave him.
(c) Deven must leave and never come back.
(d) Deven must pay in advance to speak to Nur from now on.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Siddiqui tell Deven a mutual acquaintance of theirs named Faiz is doing in Beirut?

2. Why does Deven refuse to listen to the recordings of Nur after the first night?

3. What does Nur do when Deven begins writing down a poem Nur recited at the end of Chapter 9?

4. What does the old woman say to Deven about Imtiaz after he leaves the day he visits when Imtiaz is ill?

5. What does Nur tell Deven he wants the college to do for him since Deven's lack of response is "hastening [his] early death" (183)?

Short Essay Questions

1. What things does Nur try to get Deven or the college to pay for in his final letters to him?

2. Why is Siddiqui's house being demolished in Chapter 11?

3. How is Raj described? In what way was Deven's friendship with Raj different from his friendship with Murad?

4. Who is Chotu? Describe his relationship with Siddiqui.

5. Describe Deven and Sarla's conversation about the fact that he no longer goes to Delhi at the start of Chapter 8.

6. How does Murad behave in the shop when he and Deven meet to purchase the tape recorder?

7. What does Deven see as his role in regard to Nur at the end of the novel? How does he decide to meet the challenges he knows lay ahead?

8. How does Siddiqui manage to convince the school to give Deven more money to interview Nur?

9. Who does Jain send with Deven to help edit his tapes? Is he helpful?

10. After being allowed one week's leave from the college, what plans does Deven have to break with Sarla?

(see the answer keys)

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