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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. Soon after his phone call, whom does Biju go to see?

2. When Sai sees someone approach the house at the end of the novel, who does she hope it is?

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

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

5. What does the judge threaten to do to the cook if he doesn't find his dog?

Short Essay Questions

1. In chapter 40, how does Sai react when she discovers that Gyan lives in poverty and what does this signify?

2. 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?

3. Why do Bose and son continue to try to improve Indians' lives, no matter how unsuccessful they are?

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

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

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

7. Would the judge's character be different if his father had not sent him away to school?

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

9. In chapter 34, what is the significance of Father Booty's deportation after living in Kalimong for 45 years?

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

The judge and Biju are both victims of very different types of Indian tokenization while they are abroad. The judge is allowed to join the ICS only because they want more Indian members. Biju is not permitted to apply for a green card only because he is an Indian, and there are too many Indians who want one. How is each character ultimately affected by the knowledge that he is being categorized solely on the basis of his ethnicity? Does the judge see his experience as good luck and Biju see his as bad? How do these experiences relate to the two characters' feelings about their Indian identity? How do the experiences affect their character development later on?

Essay Topic 2

How does Lola's attempts to exterminate the insects in her home parallel the INS's efforts to weed out all the illegal immigrants in America? How effective are each of their efforts, and what is the end result in each case?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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