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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 do the locals call the mushrooms they consume?

2. How did Will view Aunt Mary's love?

3. What is the name of the parrot at Vijaya's?

4. What is Leela's vocation?

5. What did Will's teachers try to do about people's differences?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the Palanese accept the use of symbolism in religion, though don't encourage it?

2. What is a Rakshasi, and what is the Rakshasi Hornpipe?

3. How does the Rani perceive Palanese education?

4. What does Will notice about the differences between Lakshmi and Aunt Mary?

5. What is the idea behind repetition in a religious nature?

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

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

8. What does Will tell Susila on impulse and how does he expect her to react?

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

10. In Pala, what is "grace" and how does this version of "grace" differ from ours?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do the Palanese prevent a great leader from arising?

Essay Topic 2

Write a 2000-word essay on the contrasts of light and darkness throughout the book, and the significance of this theme to the plot development. Why do you think the author chooses to use this theme?

Essay Topic 3

What could lead Will to believe that Murugan was having a sexual relationship with Colonel Dipa? Is this a valid conclusion based on the evidence in the first few chapters? What argues for this logic? What argues against it? Quote your supporting statements from the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 876 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample