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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 the name of the poem in the epigraph?

2. What do married women wear as a sign to all that they are married?

3. What upsets Parvati so much after the party?

4. What are those who spread false information called in the book?

5. What book does Radah read aloud, in impressive English?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did English tea sets such as Parvati’s signify, both before and after independence?

2. Why is the match between Sheela and Ravi so important to Lakshmi?

3. What does Radha do, when Mrs. Iyengar enters the room, to cover up Mrs. Harris’ groans?

4. Why do Indian parents hurry to marry off their children?

5. Why did the women of the upper caste choose Lakshmi over the women of the Shudra caste?

6. Why has shame befallen Lakshmi’s and Radha’s family, based on information given in the Prologue?

7. Describe the Old Pink City.

8. Describe the relationship between Lakshmi and her mother-in-law.

9. What deal does Parvati offer Lakshmi regarding the match between Ravi and Sheela?

10. How had notebooks become important to Lakshmi?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Life in India before and after independence is both the same and different. What does the author mean by this? How is this idea of dependence and independence expressed, not only through Indian culture, but through the characters themselves? How have the characters changed and, yet, stayed the same during times of dependence and independence throughout the story?

Essay Topic 2

The definition of having wealth changes over the course of the story. How might wealth be described early on, especially by those in the high castes and by Lakshmi herself? How does this definition change over time? What does Lakshmi feel is important at the beginning of the story versus at the end? How does the author show the lack of wealth by those even in the higher castes? How does this relate to the Hindu Proverb from the Epigraph?

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the main characters from this book and describe his or her character development throughout the story. What leads to this development? How do other characters and the events surrounding him or her influence him or her? Overall, what are your thoughts about this character? Did your opinion regarding this character stay the same or change? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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