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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 Jain offer to do to help Deven when he heads back to Mirpore after his interview with Nur is complete?

2. Why is Deven upset about the tape recorder Murad wants to purchase from the shop?

3. Why does Siddiqui tell Deven he cannot give up on his interview with Nur?

4. How long has Deven been trying to interview Nur by the time Murad calls and tells him to wrap it up?

5. What does Sarla ask Deven when she overheard Jayadev telling him of the rumor going around about his trips to Delhi?

Short Essay Questions

1. What information does Nur's first wife want Deven to include in his letter to her telling her when he can interview Nur?

2. What errors does Chiku make as the person in charge of recording Nur's interview?

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

4. 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?

5. What does the old woman, who Deven assumes must be Nur's first wife, tell Deven about Imtiaz when she is ill in Chapter 7?

6. Why does Deven call Murad in a panic the first time he meets with Nur in the room Nur's wife had arranged? How does Murad help Deven?

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

8. 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?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing color imagery in In Custody. Indicate examples of imagery in the text and identify possible meanings.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Desai's commentary on the role and status of women in In Custody.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing the symbolic significance Deven's economic status has on the story. Why is this important and how does it develop the themes of the story? What would be different if Deven were wealthy? Use examples from the text to support your viewpoint.

(see the answer keys)

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