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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. How many rupees does Parvati leave in the envelope at Mrs. Sharma's house for Lakshmi for the marriage comission?

2. While sitting with Mrs. Sharma, Lakshmi wants the thing she hates most in this world. What is that one thing?

3. Why does Lakshmi believe Radha is not fully reconciled to the idea that the baby is to be adopted?

4. Lakshmi tells Radha she is what, if she believes the father of her baby will marry her?

5. What is one reason Lakshmi gives for how Samir might have ended up with Radha’s orange pen?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some pros and cons for sending Radha to the Maharani School for Girls?

2. What does Radha say about her relationship with Lakshmi versus her relationship with Kanta?

3. What information gives readers a clue at the beginning of Part Three that something is going on with Radha?

4. What were signs that Radha was pregnant?

5. How does Radha show her naivety once Lakshmi tells her she is pregnant?

6. How do things start to go downhill after Lakshmi drops Radha back off at school after their lunch out together?

7. Why does Lakshmi abort her pregnancies? How does this affect Hari?

8. How did both Lakshmi and Hari's mother hurt him?

9. How does Radha feel about the school she is attending in Part Three? How do these feelings surface?

10. What leads Hari to helping poor, injured women?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Reckless love is a theme for multiple characters in this book. Describe some of the relationships in this book and how they might be described as reckless. Why? What do these relationships reveal about the characters? How do they affect the characters, the plot, the outcomes in the story, etc.?

Essay Topic 2

There are several relationships, both romantic and plutonic, between men and women in this story. Choose one on which to focus. Describe the relationship. How do they meet? How does their relationship develop or disintegrate over the course of the story? What leads to this strengthening or destruction of the relationship? What’s your overall view of this relationship? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Gossipmongers are a part of the story from the very beginning. Describe the use of gossip within the story to influence the various characters and choices they make. Also, discuss how the use of gossips and the spreading of gossip propels the story and influences the plot.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,004 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample