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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. Who is "the elephant god, remover of obstacles"?

2. Where does Lakshmi go for her period of confinement after her first menstruation?

3. Who gave Lakshmi the notebook that she carries in her pack as she makes her way with Auntie?

4. Who is Lakshmi's friend who has gone to work as a maid in the city to support her family?

5. What disability does Lakshmi describe her stepfather having in "The Difference Between a Son and a Daughter"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Lakshmi promised to marry when she comes of age? Why does she not marry this character?

2. Who is Gita? What is Lakshmi's relationship with Gita in the narrative?

3. How is the economy of Lakshmi's village described in "Calendar"?

4. What custom does Lakshmi partake in when she begins menstruation in "First Blood"?

5. How do Lakshmi's impressions of Auntie change in "Questions and Answers"?

6. What are the names that Lakshmi has given to her cucumbers in "Confession"?

7. How is irony employed as a significant literary device in Sections 1 and 2 of the novel?

8. How are the themes of corruption and gender inequality illustrated in Section 2 of the narrative?

9. How is Lakshmi's family described in "A Tin Roof"? With whom does Lakshmi live?

10. Describe the impact of Lakshmi's journey with Auntie on her perception of her surroundings and home. Why do you think Lakshmi is taken on this journey in the manner she is taken?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the character of Lakshmi’s stepfather in the narrative. Why does Lakshmi’s stepfather not work in the factories like the other men his age? How long has Ama been married to Lakshmi’s stepfather? Why is Lakshmi’s stepfather a hindrance to the family financially?

Essay Topic 2

Describe Lakshmi’s journey from her home village to Happiness House. Where does Lakshmi go? How does she travel? What are her perceptions of the new worlds she encounters after leaving her home?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the character of “Uncle Husband” in the novel. How is this character’s appearance described? What role does this character play in the human trafficking underworld? Why does he insist that Lakshmi call him both “Uncle” and “Husband”? What is the significance of these titles to Lakshmi? Does Lakshmi trust this character? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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