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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 are there roadblocks, strikes, and processions in the spring?

2. Who does the judge blame for the loss of his dog?

3. How do the men in Thapa's Canteen respond to the cook's news that the judge's dog is missing?

4. What does the cook demand the judge do to him when he returns home without his dog?

5. What do the police do to an innocent drunk man six months after the library visit?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the judge's reaction to Mutt's disappearance in chapter 46 reveal about his character?

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

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

4. In chapter 33, why does Sai feel jealous of the mothers and children in the restaurant?

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

6. Does Biju make the right decision in returning to India?

7. How does the women's discussion about religion in the library reflect the events that surround them?

8. Is the judge justified for blaming the cook for Mutt's disappearance in chapter 51?

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

10. In chapter 31, what does Sai's assertion that it is unwise to read old books tell the reader about her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Biju is scammed into paying to travel to Kathmandu for a training session, he witnesses a butcher calling a goat by the worst swear words imaginable before killing it. How do the butcher's actions symbolize those of the scammers? In what way is the scam itself complicated and ritualized, and how is the end result the same for Biju as it is for the goat? Why do you think the author chose a goat, as opposed to another type of animal?

Essay Topic 2

Gyan is constantly being pulled in different directions throughout the novel. His love for Sai feels improper because she could never be the submissive Indian wife his family would approve of. In addition, he feels as if he should put aside trivial things like his childish feelings for Sai and become a man in order to fight for the cause of a homeland. Do you think his romance and fighting for a cause are necessarily mutually exclusive? Do you think it is necessary for him to make a choice, or could he have both? If you had to choose between the two, which would you choose, and why?

Essay Topic 3

The judge tells Bose that he believes the present changes the past. Explain what you think he means by this. How does this apply to the judge's past experiences in particular? Do you agree with this assertion in a general sense, or do you believe that the past remains unchanged regardless of what happens later? Explain your reasoning.

(see the answer keys)

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