View a FREE sample

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 centuries-old tradition known as purdah?

2. What is Malik’s response when Lakshmi tells him to promise her he will never become a thug?

3. How does the moment in Part Three with Mrs. Sharma feel?

4. What is the punishment given to a girl in Mrs. Channa’s class for talking to her friend?

5. What does Samir want from Lakshmi, after their affair?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was Lakshmi nervous about the relationship between Kanta and Radha?

2. What is the event that puts an end to Lakshmi's business in Jaipur? What are the consequences?

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

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

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

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

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

8. What made Hari change his behavior towards women?

9. What were signs that Radha was pregnant?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the royal family in this story. How do they compare to other modern royal families? What is the role of royal families today? Should royal families still be given special treatment, financial support, etc.? Why or why not?

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

The Epigraph sets the tone and a taste of the culture found in this book. Describe the overall tone of this book. Is it happy or somber? Is it serious or light-hearted? How does this relate to Lakshmi’s personality? What subtle, and not so subtle, changes in tone take place? How does this emphasize events that take place? How does this affect you, emotionally, as the reader?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,137 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample