View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who turns out to be the father of the baby Shanta is nursing?

2. What system is affected by the ololiuqui seeds?

3. What do the locals call the mushrooms they consume?

4. What are the children's chores for the afternoon?

5. Where are the seeds from?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Will say about what Colonel Dipa will bring to the island?

2. Explain why Mrs. Narayan is a justified optimist.

3. What is the symbolism of the Scarecrows? Quote from the book and then simplify.

4. How does the Rani perceive Palanese education?

5. What is the advice to every pair of lovers?

6. What is the most dangerous element to recognize in children and why is it the most dangerous?

7. What is the difference between the Palanese use of Pavlovian conditioning versus the rest of the world?

8. What is Leela Rao's position on the island? What makes her important?

9. What does the mountain climb ordeal teach the youth of Pala and what happens afterwards?

10. What is Will's incarnation of evil?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do the Palanese deal with grief? How does it differ from the way we deal with it if we used Will's example? Which do you think is more healthy, theirs or ours?

Essay Topic 2

How do the Palanese justify Artificial Insemination? What is your opinion about the way the people of Pala reproduce selectively? Do you think that it is justifiable in their logic? Does this cater to your religious standpoints or not? How do you feel personally about selective breeding in this sense?

Essay Topic 3

What is the significance of the title of the book Murugan is reading in Chapter 10? How does this title juxtapose Murugan's beliefs against those of the citizens of Pala? Can you make a similar juxtaposition in our culture? How is this relevant to the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 829 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample