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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is Puli?
(a) The boy who leads the couple to their son's home.
(b) The doctor that their son works for.
(c) The priest at the temple.
(d) The social worker who gives them shelter.

2. In celebration of almost having enough money to return to the village, what does Rukmani buy in the city for both Puli and for her grandson?
(a) New blocks.
(b) Dum-dum carts.
(c) New shirts.
(d) Fried potatoes.

3. Who comes to the farm to collect the rent?
(a) Kunthi.
(b) Janaki.
(c) Sivaji.
(d) Biswas.

4. When the tannery officials are visiting Rukmani, what do they accuse her sons of being?
(a) Lazy men.
(b) Troublemakers.
(c) Young kids.
(d) Good workers.

5. Who does Rukmani try to sell her clothing to in order to raise enough money for rent?
(a) Biswas.
(b) Kali.
(c) Kunthi.
(d) Sivaji.

6. Who do Rukmani and Nathan share their rice with at the temple?
(a) Ammu.
(b) Sacrabani.
(c) Kunthi.
(d) Puli.

7. Where do Rukmani and Nathan spend their first night in the city?
(a) In a hotel.
(b) In their son's house.
(c) In the temple.
(d) In the street.

8. How do Nathan and Rukmani raise the rent money they must pay?
(a) They sell some of their belongings.
(b) They teach other villagers to read and write.
(c) They sell the rest of the rice they were holding in reserves.
(d) They go to work at the tannery.

9. Why does Kenny not help Rukmani when ask. him for food during the drought?
(a) He is helping feed the tannery workers.
(b) He does not have enough food for himself.
(c) He does not want to share his resources with her.
(d) He is not in the village.

10. According to Kenny's plan, how long should it take to build the hospital?
(a) One year.
(b) Three years.
(c) Twenty-seven months.
(d) Ten months.

11. Which of Rukmani's sons marries of his own accord?
(a) Kuti.
(b) Murugan.
(c) Thambi.
(d) Arjun.

12. While still living in the city, who do Rukmani and Nathan entrust their money to while they go to work each day?
(a) Janaki.
(b) Ammu.
(c) Puli.
(d) The overseer.

13. During their conversation in the village, Biswas tells Rukmani a rumor he heard from Kunthi. What is the rumor?
(a) That Ira is working as a prostitute.
(b) That Kenny and Rukmani have a secret relationship.
(c) That Nathan is having an affair with Kali.
(d) That Nathan is the father of Kunthi's two sons.

14. What does Rukmani talk Nathan out of selling?
(a) Their wedding clothes.
(b) Their pots and pans.
(c) Their bullocks.
(d) The next season's seed.

15. Which of Rukmani's children is most in danger of dying from starvation?
(a) Arjun.
(b) Ira.
(c) Selvam.
(d) Kuti.

Short Answer Questions

1. Chapter 18 opens with Rukmani going into town to sell some of her vegetables. Who does she now refuse to sell to?

2. In Chapter 23, Sivaji returns to the farm. What news does he bring to Nathan and Rukmani?

3. After their first night in the city, what do Rukmani and Nathan own?

4. Where is Nathan when he dies?

5. As Rukmani's family is waiting for the next harvest, even the fish becomes depleted. What does Rukmani do to feed her family?

(see the answer keys)

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