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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 encouraged and aided Lakshmi in her move to Jaipur?

2. Parvati’s husband owns what type of firm?

3. Radha is known as what by the people of her village?

4. What changed everything and changed nothing, according to Part One?

5. Why is Joyce Harris’ life in danger?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Lakshmi’s sachets contain? How are they significant to the story?

2. Why does Lakshmi consider Sheela Sharma a good match for Ravi?

3. Why are children so important to Indian men?

4. What did Munchi give Radha? Why was it so special to her?

5. How had notebooks become important to Lakshmi?

6. Describe Lakshmi’s mosaic tile floor.

7. What is the purpose of Lakshmi’s tiffin?

8. Why does Lakshmi ask Radha to make the henna paste?

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

10. How does Lakshmi describe Jaipur at the beginning of Part One?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The topic of adoption is significant in this story. Describe the times this story discusses adoption. What is the cultural connection to this idea of adoption? How is the adoption of Radha’s son by Kanta unique? How is this adoption both significant and unusual within the culture and time period of the story? How does the fact that Radha gives her son up for adoption also reflect the culture and time period?

Essay Topic 2

Both Hindi and French are used throughout the book. How does the author make these languages stand out? How does she aid you in understanding the meaning of these foreign words? What is the purpose of using both of these languages? Do you think the use of these two languages is effective? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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