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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 effect does the rainy season have on the cook?

2. What types of memories are instilled in the judge by the theft of his trunk?

3. What type of food is served at the Ghandi Cafe?

4. What was the job of the judge's father-in-law?

5. After Gyan and Sai's first meeting, why does the cook think it strange that Gyan is Nepalese?

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. What miscommunication exists between Biju and the cook in chapter 15?

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

4. As described in chapter 12, what is the difference between the effects of Catholic school on Sai and Noni?

5. In chapter 28, how does Jemu's family's reaction to him upon his return from England contrast with his expectations?

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

7. Why is Jemu's reaction to his wife's going through his things in chapter 28 so severe that he rapes her?

8. In chapter 5, what is the symbolism of the two-level restaurants with basement kitchens where Biju works?

9. In chapter 22, what does it tell us about Biju when he leaves his job at Brigitte's and begins working at the Ghandi Cafe?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Do Sai and Gyan's recognition of a common ancestral connection to the British bring them closer together, push them farther apart, or do both at different times? Are these similarities equally important to Sai and Gyan? Why are their connections to the British so important, so troublesome, or both?

Essay Topic 2

What happens to the system of justice in the Indian village as the GNLF men take over? Explain how one of the characters in the novel is unfairly victimized by this situation. Do you think the people should have fought harder against the unfair policies? Do you think they should have tried to organize and fought back as one large body? Would this have been an effective technique? Or would this just have made things worse?

Essay Topic 3

How do the judge's behavior and actions upon returning from England to his family represent the English and Indian sides of himself? Has he adopted the best English customs and the worst Indian ones, or vice-versa?

(see the answer keys)

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