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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When Rukmani learns that her son has been killed, what does she also learn he has been accused of?
(a) Stealing rice.
(b) Stealing wages.
(c) Stealing a calf skin.
(d) Stealing a bullock.

2. During which season is Ira's child born?
(a) Summer.
(b) Winter.
(c) Fall.
(d) Spring.

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

4. When the doctor returns to the house, what do Rukmani and Nathan find surprising?
(a) The doctor is a woman.
(b) The doctor cannot write.
(c) The doctor is very young.
(d) The doctor is very old.

5. After Rukmani turns in her stones and has been paid, she notices a group of people on the side of the road. Why have the people stopped?
(a) The rocks have slid into the road.
(b) Nathan has fallen.
(c) A cart is stuck in the mud.
(d) The road has given way.

6. How does Rukmani first earn money when she and Nathan are in the city?
(a) Begging.
(b) Writing letters.
(c) Cleaning homes.
(d) Prostitution.

7. As the drought continues, how much food is available for the family when Rukmani first measures it?
(a) 4 ollocks.
(b) 20 ollocks.
(c) 10 ollocks.
(d) 6 ollocks.

8. What is the name of Murugan's wife?
(a) Kambi.
(b) Ammu.
(c) Janaki.
(d) Kali.

9. What does Rukmani tell her family regarding Puli?
(a) He was kind to them in the city.
(b) He will be given in marriage to Kunthi's daughter.
(c) He will be returning to the city.
(d) They adopted him before Nathan's death.

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

11. Who believes that most of the troubles at the tannery--and indeed in the world--are a result of the education learned through books?
(a) Rukmani.
(b) Kali.
(c) Kunthi.
(d) Selvam.

12. By saving four annas a day for their journey, how long do Rukmani and Nathan figure they will have to work before being able to make the journey back to their village?
(a) Forty days.
(b) Two months.
(c) Ten days.
(d) Two weeks.

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

14. In order to pay their rent, what is Rukmani forced to sell?
(a) Her mother's ring.
(b) Her red sari.
(c) Her new dress.
(d) Ira's new dowry.

15. As Rukmani's family is waiting for the next harvest, even the fish becomes depleted. What does Rukmani do to feed her family?
(a) She draws upon her secret hoard.
(b) She turns to prostitution.
(c) She picks and cooks twigs and berries.
(d) She works for Kenny.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why has Kenny returned to the village?

2. When Rukmani and Puli return to the temple after their shopping extravaganza, what does Rukmani realize?

3. Before identifying the intruder in her house, what does Rukmani do?

4. What does Rukmani use for the first time at the doctor's house?

5. How much money do Rukmani and Nathan leave the village with?

(see the answer keys)

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