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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. Why doesn't the narrator want to take Nitin back to the guesthouse?

2. Why does the narrator read Nitin's diary?

3. What is the reason for the calmness of Tariq Mia's village?

4. Why do the Jain monks shave their heads?

5. In the story of the Kabirvad Tree, what created it?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the legend of the battle at the Narmada riverbank?

2. How does Ashok's father feel about him becoming a monk?

3. How does the archaeology crew affect the narrator's view of his escape?

4. What is the Vano ritual of purging a possession and how does it work?

5. How does the narrator feel about Tariq Mia's village?

6. How important are material goods to the people that Naga Baba blesses?

7. What is Shankar's interest in the Narmada?

8. What is the narrator's primary concern in Chapter 8?

9. Is the daughter trusting of Rahul Singh?

10. Are any of the daughter's shortcomings correctable?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss paternity and childhood in "A River Sutra". Where can this type of relationship be seen in the text? Who is involved, and how does it drive the plot?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss how the Narmada river functions as a character in "A River Sutra".

Essay Topic 3

How do physical conditions (beauty, disability, etc.) perform with enlightenment in "A River Sutra"? What is their function?

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