View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. How does Nathan characterize Rukmani?

3. Why do the village women think Kunthi is quieter and more reserved than the rest of the women?

4. In what month is Ira married?

5. Why does Rukmani go into the village once or twice a week?

Short Essay Questions

1. What advice does Kali give to Nathan and Rukmani regarding Ira?

2. Why does Nathan refuse to eat any of the food that Ira brings into the house?

3. In Chapter 14, why does Rukmani give Kunthi what she has demanded?

4. When Rukmani and Nathan awaken from their first night's sleep in the city, why do they not eat breakfast before heading out to find their son?

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

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

7. What does Murugan's wife blame for his desertion?

8. When Rukmani first meets the village doctor, why does she stare at him?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There were a number of coping methods that helped the various characters in the story deal with situations in their lives. How did the following people cope? Be sure to describe a particular situation in the story and tell how they dealt with the situation.

a. Rukmani

b. Ira

c. Kunthi

d. Kenny

Essay Topic 2

Puli plays a very important and pivotal role in the latter part of the story.

a. Why do Nathan and Rukmani become attached to Puli? How does Puli benefit from their relationship? How do Nathan and Rukmani benefit from their relationship?

b. Puli is both a hardened city dweller and a little boy at the same time. Describe incidents of each side of the boy.

c. The introduction of Puli to Rukmani's family is significant. How is Puli introduced to Rukmani's family and what is significant about the introduction?

Essay Topic 3

Rukmani's parents arrange her marriage to Nathan.

a. Why do her parents select Nathan as her husband?

b. Why is her mother upset with their choice of Nathan?

c. What is the economic impact of the arranged marriage, for Nathan, for Rukmani, and for her parents?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 656 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample