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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. What is Percy's main interest in India?

2. Why is it that Khorshedbai does not get rid of her noisy bangles in "The Paying Guests?"

3. Why is the compound watchman happy when Nariman tells the boys a story?

4. What does Viraf's and Kersi's private signal sound like?

5. Why would Tehmina curse anyone who passes in front of her early in the morning as she faces the rising sun?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Lend Me Your Light," why is Kersi's mother happy that Percy is friends with Jamshed?

2. What is Jehangir's status with the boys of Firozsha Baag by the time of the Squatter story?

3. Why is it Jehangir's doing that he and his parents are going to visit Bhagwan Baba for advice on his new girlfriend?

4. What is an example of Kersi holding back his true feelings?

5. What does Sarosh's troubles in Toronto really reflect upon?

6. Why does Kersi remember the word ghati with shame?

7. What is it about Jamshed's letter to Kersi that disturbs Kersi so much?

8. Why does Jehangir stop going to the Hanging Gardens?

9. Why is it that Khorshedbai's husband, Ardesar, does not question his wife's disgusting actions against the landlord?

10. How did the relationship between Boman and Kasmira and the paying guests begin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the two couples from "The Paying Guest." Delve into their personalities and main characteristics.

Essay Topic 2

How is "Squatter" considered to be a story-within-a-story? What are the elements of this story that belie its complexities?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the ways in which Daulat, from "Condolence Visit," begins to move away from the traditional ways of dealing with death. Examine what makes her methods of dealing with the loss of her husband difficult to deal with, for both herself and others.

(see the answer keys)

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