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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. What proof does Jugga's mother have he was not involved in the dacoit?

2. How many officers arrest Juggut Singh?

3. What does Chand fear the rain will do?

4. What makes the police officers believe they have made a mistake?

5. Who have started crowding on all trains?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the plan for the police, in terms of what to do with Malli and his gang, and who to ask villagers about in Chapter 2, section 3?

2. Explain why Chand now believes Iqbal is a Sikh.

3. Explain Iqbal's belief pertaining to morality in terms of financial status.

4. Describe how the villagers learn of what was in the train.

5. Explain how the Sikh officer determined the number of refugees killed on the ghost train.

6. Explain Chand's obsession with death, and how he tried to overcome it.

7. Describe Jugga, in terms of how others see him, and how he sees himself.

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

9. Describe Meet Singh's appearance.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the middle of the novel, a group of Sikh soldiers come to Mano Majra. In the same section, a train full of dead bodies is burned right outside the village, with the help of the wood and kerosene of the villagers. How do you think these events helped frame the rest of the story? If the train had not come through and the soldiers had not arrived, do you think the rest of the novel would have gone as it did? Would there have been a feeling of a need to retaliate? Would the villagers have remained brotherly? How else could the military have handled the trainload of deceased bodies? Was the government way of dealing with issues part of the problem in the novel? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the characters of Magistrate Hukum Chand and Iqbal Singh. What are their views on life? How do they see themselves? What are their backgrounds like? What image do they portray to the public, and is this image their reality? Why or why not? Does either character live up to his own standards? Why or why not? What does each character do in the novel to help the situation between the Muslims and the Hindus? Does either succeed? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Iqbal Singh makes several derogatory statements throughout the novel, in terms of the Indian people and their views and values. Choose two topics below and discuss Iqbal's view of that topic, in reference to the people of India:

1. Religion

2. Sexuality

3. Art and Music

4. Slavery / Freedom

(see the answer keys)

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