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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. How did the mother who wrote the letter from Chapter 10 describe her father?

2. What is the name of the dog that accompanied Tilo in her escape in Chapter 8?

3. How was the woman referred to that Naga began a relationship with after his wife left him?

4. What did Tilo attribute to her decision to leave her husband in Chapter 8?

5. At whose grave was Anjum when she said a prayer in Chapter 12?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Miss Jebeen the Second's mother's pregnancy described in her letter?

2. What did Naga ask Tilo about Commander Gulrez after they were released in Chapter 8? What did she reply?

3. Why did Tilo flee in Chapter 8? Who did she enlist to help her?

4. What is described in the poem from Chapter 12 and how does it connect to the themes of the novel?

5. What story did Musa recall telling his daughter in Chapter 9? What was Musa doing as he recalled this memory?

6. What does ACP Pinky do to Tilo in Chapter 9? Why?

7. What did Amrik Singh give to Musa after his wife's death? Why?

8. How have the circumstances of Biplab Dasgupta's life changed in the opening of Chapter 11?

9. Where was Miss Jebeen the First buried? How did she die?

10. How does the narrator describe Tilo's act of leaving Naga in Chapter 8? For how long were they married?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss elements of animal symbolism in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. What are some of the animals that the author focuses on in the Prologue and in the final chapter? What do these animals symbolize to you? What is their purpose in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the characters of Miss Jebeen the First and Miss Jebeen the Second. Are these characters related? What led to Miss Jebeen the First's death? Who died with her? Where was she buried? How does her life compare with that of Miss Jebeen the Second?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of gender and gender identity in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. What are hijras and what is the history of their culture within Indian society? How does the author explore the theme of gender through symbolism? How is it explored through character?

(see the answer keys)

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