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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. What is Gyan's response when the judge asks him what poets he admires?

2. How does Gyan react when Sai tells him about the Christmas party?

3. What do the police examine at the cook's home?

4. How does Sai react when Gyan apologizes for what he said to her about Christmas?

5. Why is Gyan conflicted about his relationship with Sai?

Short Essay Questions

1. In chapter 17, when Biju and Saeed part ways, why does Biju vow never to let anyone get close to him again?

2. In chapter 24, how does Harish-Harry's comments about his workers contrast with the way he treats them?

3. In chapter 23, what do Sai and Gyan discover they have in common?

4. In chapter 27, why does Sai have so much trouble relating to Gyan's ideas about a Gorkha homeland?

5. In chapter 26, why does Gyan begin regretting the time he spent with Sai as he becomes part of the liberation?

6. What effect does Saeed Saeed have on Biju in chapter 14?

7. In chapter 19, why does the author have both the cook and Lola experience difficulty communicating with a loved-one abroad?

8. In chapter 27, in what ways do Sai and Gyan view Christmas differently?

9. How is the judge's house like the judge himself?

10. In chapter 29, how does Gyan begin to view Sai?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, a number of characters demonstrate or wrestle with stereotypes about members of a certain ethnic group. These include Sai, the cook, Lola and Noni, and Biju. Choose one of these characters and describe how their stereotypical ideas play out in the novel. What do you think this says about the character in a larger sense? Is there any change in how the character comes to view members of this group? How does this relate to the theme of identity in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the judge and Hamish-Harry. How is the judge's face powder like Hamish-Harry's name? How do these reflect the ways in which they perceive themselves? Why do you think they live in such different ways, and what does this have to do with the different countries to which they traveled?

Essay Topic 3

Biju and the judge were both sent away by their fathers in order to have a better life. Compare and contrast the two characters' experiences abroad, and how they ultimately affected each character. Why do you think things turned out so differently for the two characters? Does it have to do with their experiences? Their upbringing? Their personality?

(see the answer keys)

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