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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was the big court case that Bose had lost?
(a) He tried to win working conditions equal to those of the white men.
(b) He tried to earn a salary equal to that of a white man.
(c) He tried to gain benefits equal to that of a white man.
(d) He tried to win a pension equal to that of a white man.

2. What does Harish-Harry show his employees photographs of?
(a) His recent trip to Jamaica.
(b) His grandchildren.
(c) His new satellite dish.
(d) His future son-in-law.

3. What does Uncle Potty procure in Darjeeling?
(a) Cheese.
(b) Meat.
(c) Alcohol.
(d) Chocolate.

4. As the situation in Kalimpong worsens, what happens to Lola and Noni's property?
(a) GNLF boys tear it down.
(b) The government seizes it.
(c) GNLF boys build camps on it.
(d) An arsonist burns it down.

5. What burden has been lifted for Biju now that he's returned home?
(a) He's no longer a foreigner and an immigrant.
(b) He's no longer forced to speak English.
(c) He's no longer trying to be a Westerner.
(d) He's no longer in a position of servitude.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did the cook sacrifice a chicken and goat?

2. What do the GNLF boys do to Biju?

3. What advice does Mr. Kakkar give Biju when Biju goes to see him?

4. What does Mr. Iype, the newsagent, tell Biju?

5. What did the judge remember as he was heading home from the restaurant?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which of the characters has not lost everything by the end of the novel?

2. How is the cook's reaction to the worst of the civil unrest in chapter 44 unique?

3. In chapter 40, how does the judge's refusal to help the drunkard's family highlight his thinking only of himself?

4. In chapter 30, what does Harish-Harry tell Biju that illustrates how naive he is about the situation of the illegal immigrants who work for him?

5. In chapter 41, how does Biju's reaction to the travel agent's advice reflect Biju's idea of what constitutes a "better life"?

6. What do Biju's childhood memories reveal about his character?

7. In chapter 39, why does Sai remain silent about her feelings for Gyan when Uncle Potty, Lola, and Noni ask questions or offer advice?

8. In chapter 36, what does the author convey by the bad connection on the phone line between Biju and his father?

9. In chapter 30, why does the cook suddenly begin having superstitious fears for Biju's life?

10. In chapter 37, does Noni make the right decision by allowing the GNLF boys to stay in their home? Or should she have listened to Lola and tried to make them leave?

(see the answer keys)

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