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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. Who arrives and puts up tents near the railway station?

2. Where do the men find Lala hiding?

3. What is unique about the train the locals call the ghost train, that reminds them of the old trains?

4. What value is placed above others in the Punjabi, according to Iqbal?

5. What does the Subinspector tell Chand the villagers know nothing of?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the atmosphere in India as explained in the first section of the book.

2. Describe Imam Baksh's belief of how a religious man is seen. and why.

3. Explain why the Subinspector evacuated Chundunnegger.

4. Explain why Iqbal is angry that the police are arresting him in Chapter 1, section 4, and what he believes they are arresting him for.

5. Describe the summer monsoon.

6. Why do some of the villagers agree to attack the train?

7. Describe what the villagers find at the river with the lambardar.

8. Explain why the police let Malli and his gang go free, why they claimed Iqbal was a Muslim, and why they sought to convey an idea that Sultana may have been to blame for the murder?

9. Explain what Jugga's mother gives as proof of his innocence, and his response.

10. Tell the story Jugga recites on the way to the police station.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The inequality of the classes is a major plot theme throughout the novel. Describe the classes, as explained by Iqbal in the book. Who are considered the high class individuals? Who are considered lower class? How is this class system seen in government circles? How is it represented? Why does this concept seem to carry on, even if legislature abolishes it? Do you think Iqbal's social status has any ramifications in the book? Does the social status of Hukum Chand play a role? What about the social status of Meet Singh or the lambardar? What is the social status of Jugga? If you rank each of these characters, who is of the lowest class? By the end of the novel, who is the character who comes through, and saves the lives of the Muslims? What does this indicate about the value of the caste system, in terms of actual value of people?

Essay Topic 2

One of the primary themes in the novel is the concept of the communal action, both in terms of peace and in terms of communal violence. Explain the concept of communal action. In the beginning, what is Mano Majra, in terms of its sense of community? How is that changed? What is the sense of community by the end of the novel? Since no violence occurred inside the village as a result of the Hindu/Muslim conflict, what drove a wedge between the two sects? In the end, does anyone benefit from the communal violence? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Hukum Chand's comments about the indifference of a bullet with Iqbal Singh's discussion of the neutrality of the bullet. What are both men trying to say? How do those comments reflect their feelings about conflict and sacrifice? Be sure to be detailed in your analysis.

(see the answer keys)

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