View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do the GNLF boys do to Biju?

2. What does Gyan's house look like?

3. Soon after his phone call, what does Biju begin to think about his life?

4. How do Lola and Noni respond to the Gorkhas marching in the street?

5. When the judge asked his wife if she was stupid, what was her reply?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the biggest loss that nearly all the characters inherited when the English left India?

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

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

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

7. As revealed in chapter 32, what role did Bose play in transforming the judge's identity?

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

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. Are the characters searching for Mutt in chapter 49 all actually searching for someone else? If so, for whom are they searching?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think the cook remains with the judge, even though the judge is distant and treats him unkindly? Why do you think the cook lies about being mistreated, rather than trying to do something about it? Do you think he would have remained with the judge if Sai had never come to stay with them? What role does Sai play in the cook's life?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Sai's unusual family life and relationships influence her in specific ways. Which characters do you think have most shaped the person she is today? Do you think she would be different if she had been raised in a traditional Indian family with a mother and father and attended a regular school? If so, how would this impact her character, her behavior, her relationships, and the choices she makes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 979 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample