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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 was Parvati Singh’s longest-serving help and nanny to her sons?

2. Why is Radha not allowed to go to the palace with Lakshmi?

3. What is the name of the poem in the epigraph?

4. Why did Lakshmi need to visit her new home every other day?

5. How does Radha react when Sheela does not want Malik to help them with a design for the Sharma party?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Sheela Sharma and Ravi Singh. How are they alike? What evidence from the story supports this?

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

3. In 1950s India, did individual shame exist? How does Lakshmi explain shame in her culture?

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

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

6. What happy news is received at the Singh’s party?

7. Why does Lakshmi feel pressure regarding Kanta, as a client?

8. Why does Lakshmi help women have abortions?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

What does the writer want the reader to get out of this book? What is her purpose for writing this novel? Has she succeeded? If so, how? If not, 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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