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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. Right after the monsoons end, Rukmani and Nathan venture into town to purchase rice for the family. Why do they return empty handed?

2. What do Rukmani and her mother do whenever Rukmani travels back to her childhood home?

3. What does Rukmani see as a positive result of the foreigners returning to the village?

4. Who are among the first to work in the tannery?

5. Why are some people surprised when they look at Nathan and Rukmani's daughter?

Short Essay Questions

1. The monsoon season strikes early. How does the village fair?

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

3. With only three weeks until the rice is ready for harvesting, what is Rukmani most afraid of regarding Kuti?

4. In the early days of their marriage, Rukmani and Nathan feel blessed. Why?

5. Kuti's condition is improving although there still is no food. Rukmani attributes his improvement to her prayers. What is actually causing his improvement?

6. At the beginning of Chapter 2, Nathan becomes angry with Rukmani for the first time ever. Why?

7. Is the strike successful? Why or why not?

8. In Chapter 5 during one of Kenny's visits, he notices that Rukmani is still breast-feeding her three-year-old son. Why?

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

10. What does the doctor tell Rukmani and Nathan about Murugan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many of the misunderstandings that Kenny and Rukmani have come from their different ways of viewing the world.

a. Discuss Kenny's world view. How does his world view impact his life and his reactions to life in the village?

b. Discuss Rukmani's world view. How does her world view impact her life and her reactions to life in the village?

Essay Topic 2

Nathan is portrayed as a kind, albeit poor, farmer. While this is generally true, the reader learns that Nathan is all too human and makes mistakes too.

a. Describe Nathan's character strengths and character weaknesses.

b. Give three concrete examples from the story that reflect one of Nathan's character strengths from the answer above.

c. Give three concrete examples from the story that reflect one of Nathan's character weaknesses from the answer above.

d. Identify Nathan's greatest mistake. Why does he confess to Rukmani and how does she react to his news?

Essay Topic 3

The book summary describes this story as the story of a woman "whose life was a gallant and persistent battle to care for those she loved."

a. Do you agree or disagree with that description? Why or why not?

b. Give three examples of how Rukmani's life was gallant.

c. What, in your opinion, gives Rukmani the strength to get up and face each day no matter what the circumstances are?

(see the answer keys)

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