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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Does Nataraj have a family of his own?
(a) No, he was raised an orphan and never married.
(b) Yes, his four sons have recently married.
(c) No, his closest family is a brother that lives nearby.
(d) Yes, he has a wife and a son.

2. What was lost when Nataraj's grandmother passed away?
(a) The ancestral home of the family.
(b) Family unity between the five brothers and their families.
(c) The stories of Nataraj's grandfather, an elephant handler.
(d) All documentation of Nataraj's existence.

3. What had lived before in the house on Kabir street?
(a) Nataraj's extended family, consisting of four uncles and their families.
(b) A wealthy family that wanted Nataraj to marry their daughter.
(c) The owner of the Star.
(d) A taxidermist.

4. Which of the following best describes a philosophy practiced by Vasu?
(a) All of the above.
(b) Might is right.
(c) Hard work pays off.
(d) As civilized beings, it is up to us to prove our superiority to nature.

5. How much room does Nataraj need for his printing press?
(a) He can just squeeze everything into the place he has.
(b) He uses the back wall of his home where he can line up the machines.
(c) A shop downtown with three rooms.
(d) The back room of the place he owns.

6. How does Nataraj feel about having the taxidermy business upstairs?
(a) He wishes he could create such life like creations.
(b) He thinks it is sort of neat but dislikes the smell.
(c) None of the above.
(d) It horrifies him.

7. What does Vasu bring back to the building with him all the time after he starts going to the forest?
(a) People to look at and make offers on the stuffed tiger.
(b) Animals he has shot.
(c) Friends to discuss tiger hunting.
(d) Big game hunters.

8. What does Nataraj have stashed away up in his attic that he wishes to be rid of?
(a) Several animals stuffed by a taxidermist.
(b) Old newspapers, magazines and other waste paper.
(c) Scorpions and snakes.
(d) All of the above.

9. What problem does the septuagenarian bring to Nataraj?
(a) His grandson's dog had been shot.
(b) The odor of Vasu's work is hurting his lungs.
(c) He is afraid of Vasu's violence.
(d) He is trying to rent a room in his home but no-one will rent near Vasu.

10. What does the lawyer say when Nataraj suggests they use the money he is owed to pay the court fees?
(a) That the accounts must not be mixed.
(b) The money will not be enough.
(c) That he will do so if it erases his entire debt.
(d) That it is a brilliant way of avoiding taxes.

11. Who does Nataraj consult to help decide what to do about Vasu?
(a) All of the above.
(b) Sen.
(c) His wife.
(d) Kavi, the poet.

12. What is a rakshasa?
(a) A man-eating tiger.
(b) A demoniac creature with strange powers that recognizes no restraints of man or God.
(c) A situation in which the person with true power is left powerless in the face of a lesser power with more conviction.
(d) A small weasel like predator in the Mempi forest.

13. How long does Vasu say the jeep ride he takes Nataraj on will take?
(a) The afternoon.
(b) Five minutes.
(c) Until evening.
(d) A couple hours.

14. What is the state of the citrus tree behind the house on Kabir Street?
(a) Its produces an abundant crop that tastes bitter.
(b) It was a great producer, but now only occasionally produces a couple fruits.
(c) It is withered and never bears any fruit.
(d) It is flourishing.

15. How does Nataraj return to Malgudi from Mempi?
(a) An eight hour bus ride on credit.
(b) The tea-shop man gets him a ride with a relative.
(c) Vasu drives him back.
(d) By taxi.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Nataraj use his parlor for?

2. Which of the following best describes the feelings of the poet about Vasu?

3. What does Nataraj admire about Vasu even when they are no longer friends?

4. What did Vasu hear about when they reached Mempi?

5. What does Vasu do in the village of Mempi?

(see the answer keys)

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