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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 does Deven attribute to Siddiqui's boldness in asking for funding for the tape recorder?

2. What is strange about the interview room when Deven and Chiku arrive at the start of Chapter 10?

3. What does Mr. Rai give to Deven the day after the annual board meeting?

4. What does Deven decide he will do despite knowing the calamities they lay ahead at the end of the story?

5. What does Imtiaz tell Deven and Nur while she is in bed sick in Chapter 7?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Siddiqui's house. Why does he live there?

2. 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?

3. Instead of getting a hotel, with whom does Deven stay while he is interviewing Nur? How does he know this person? How is this person described?

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

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

6. Why does Deven feel an odd sense of relief in Chapter 10 when he realizes Murad will no longer help him?

7. Who is Jayadev and what does he say to Deven at the annual board meeting, which Sarla overhears?

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

9. Who is Siddiqui? How does he agree to help Deven with his interview with Nur?

10. What happens when Deven brings his host a basket of fruit as a thank you? How does Deven feel about this and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Even though this novel has many characters, what makes Deven the protagonist of this novel? Compare his role in the novel to definitions of protagonists.

Essay Topic 2

Write a detailed analysis of tone in Desai's In Custody. Include whether the tone changes or remains the same. If it changes, include details on when, why and whether this change is effective.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing Desai's commentary on marriage in In Custody. How is marriage represented in the story? How does it affect the narrative? Use textual evidence to explain your analysis.

(see the answer keys)

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