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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 does Master Mohan kill himself?

2. How much time has passed between the end of Chapter 5 and Chapter 6?

3. Why does Nitin bring books to the tea estate?

4. Why does Tariq Mia begin to tell the narrator his story?

5. The Jain monk observes that although his father gives to charity, he doesn't ______ poverty.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the elderly woman's daughter kidnapped?

2. What is the significance of the guns in Chapter 11?

3. What is the role of the Narmada river in Chapter 5?

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

5. What happens to Shahbag?

6. Why is the narrator hesitant to allow the elderly woman to stay at the guesthouse? What does her situation resemble?

7. What is the fault Tariq Mia observes about the narrator's attempt at enlightenment?

8. What is Ashok's desire in becoming a monk?

9. Is the narrator obsessive compulsive?

10. How is Imrat a second chance for Master Mohan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the course of change our narrator experiences: stretch from before the beginning of "A River Sutra" to the end, reasons for change, and where we leave him at the end.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss fact vs. fable in "A River Sutra" and the truth or fiction that can be found in both.

Essay Topic 3

What is "love" in "A River Sutra"? What different forms of love do readers see? What does love mean to the characters? How is the plot affected by love?

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