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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. How long does Ira's marriage last?

2. When Rukmani complains to the other women about the village's expansion and its resulting noise, Kunthi insults her. What does Kunthi call Rukmani?

3. How does Old Granny make her living?

4. What does Rukmani do when she finds the creature in her garden?

5. Who does Rukmani trust to find a suitable husband for Ira?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the villagers travel to Rukmani's home to see Ira's new child?

2. Why is Rukmani disappointed when she sees her first-born child?

3. On his deathbed, what does Nathan tell Rukmani to comfort her?

4. Rukmani sells her vegetables to a Muslim woman. What is Rukmani's opinion of the Muslim women and their coverings?

5. At the beginning of Chapter 21, Rukmani says that Selvam has ceased to belong to her and Nathan. Why?

6. When Kenny offers to help Rukmani after she confides she has no sons, what is Rukmani's initial reaction to his offer of help?

7. When selecting a suitable husband for Ira, Nathan and Rukmani list several requirements of the selected man. When suitable match is found, what requirements does he meet?

8. Why do Rukmani and Nathan not stay with Murugan's wife?

9. Why does Rukmani begin selling her vegetables in the village?

10. When Nathan questions why Rukmani is grieving, what does she tell him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The opening of the tannery impacts life in the village in many ways, both positive and negative.

a. Describe three positive and three negative impacts the tannery has on the village.

b. Describe three impacts the tannery has personally on Rukmani.

c. In Rukmani's opinion, what is the biggest positive consequence of the tannery's opening?

d. In Rukmani's opinion, what is the biggest negative consequence of the tannery's opening?

e. Do you agree with Rukmani's opinions (your answers to c & d)? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In the Indian village, daughters are seen as a burden, while sons are seen as a benefit.

a. Why are daughters seen as a burden? Give examples from the story to support your reasoning.

b. Why are sons seen as a benefit? Give examples from the story to support your reasoning.

c. Is the same true today, daughters are a burden, while sons are a benefit? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In the Indian culture that Rukmani is born into, birth order is of vital importance.

a. Why is birth order important in Rukmani's culture? How does birth order affect sons? How does birth order affect daughters?

b. Where is Rukmani in birth order and how does her birth order impact her choice of spouses?

c. Where is Ira in the birth order and how does her birth order impact her choice of spouses?

(see the answer keys)

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