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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. Why does Lakshmi imagine the letters from Kumar are from Radha?

2. What is the term when a woman's husband takes birth in her womb in the form of future children?

3. Why is Maharani Latika depressed?

4. How many rupees is the royal family going to pay Lakshmi for the adoption of Radha's baby?

5. What is Malik’s advice to Radha, at the end of their discussion regarding where Malik had seen Radha?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How are Radha and Malik alike?

3. What is the reason Maharani Indira gives for wanting Maharani Latika healed?

4. What were signs that Maharani Latika was healing?

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

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

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

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

9. Name at least three traditions that are part of a blessing for a new home in Hinduism, according to this story.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Perception is a universal theme found in this book. How does perception play a role in the acceptance and inclusion of the characters? How does perception also lead to exclusion and denial? How does this seem to affect the characters in this book? What might the author want you to take away from this book regarding this theme?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

The blending of cultures is shown in many ways in this story. Describe two ways in which the author brings focus to this. What are the pros and cons given in the story of blending cultures? How is seen in our own country, both in small communities of ethnic groups, as well as in the culture at large?

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