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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. In "Don't Cross the Cook," Lakshmi says she learned a new Hindi phrase today which is "Don't cross the cook or she will" do what?

2. What does Lakshmi describe the smell of cooking onions representing to her in "A Secret"?

3. Whom does the tea vendor give tea to even if she doesn't have money until the next day, according to the narrator in "The Street Boy"?

4. How much money does Lakshmi discover her customers are paying for her in "The Customers"?

5. What does Shahanna ask of Lakshmi when Lakshmi tells her about the American in "A Secret"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Lakshmi describe her feelings regarding Pushpa's son in "An Ordinary Boy"?

2. How are the characters of Pushpa and Anita described when Lakshmi first meets them?

3. How is Western culture presented in Section 3? How do the characters in the story perceive Western culture?

4. How does Harish describe Americans to Lakshmi in "A Strange Vocabulary"?

5. How is Lakshmi's situation explained to her by Shahanna in "Everything I Need to Know Now"?

6. How is Lakshmi's new room described in "In My New Room"? With whom does she share the room?

7. What gifts do Lakshmi and Harish exchange during the Festival of Brothers and Sisters?

8. How does Shahanna respond when Lakshmi tells her about her encounter with the American?

9. How does Monica describe her "accomplishments" at Happiness House in "Understanding Monica"?

10. What causes Lakshmi to become injured in her first days at Happiness House?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the character of Gita in the novel. How long ago was Gita sent to the city to work as a maid? How has her family benefited from Gita’s work? How does Lakshmi feel about the absence of her friend? Do you think that Gita really went to work as a maid, or do you think she was sold into slavery as well? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the realities of the child sex slave trade in India and worldwide. How many children are estimated to be involved in India’s sex trade? How many of these children are involved against their will? What is the draw for customers in India (and other nations) to have sexual relations with children, particularly virgins?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Mumtaz in Sold. What role does Mumtaz play in the underground human trafficking market? How does Mumtaz establish control over the girls that she “owns” at Happiness House? How does Mumtaz avoid arrest?

(see the answer keys)

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