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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 2: Part I, Chapters 6-13.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What do the adults tell the children causes dust storms?
(a) The heat is trying to chase the rain away.
(b) The jinns are getting ready to celebrate a wedding.
(c) One of the children has told an elder a lie.
(d) The ifrit are rising up from their underground caves.

2. What caused the abolition of Persian, Sanskrit, and Arabic from Indian schools?
(a) The intervention of the Catholic Church.
(b) The British attempt to anglicize Indians.
(c) The defeat of an attempted Afghan invasion of India.
(d) The elevation of Warren Hastings to Governor.

3. Where does Mir Nihal go on most evenings after dinner in Part I?
(a) To see his friend Nawab Puttan.
(b) To the mosque.
(c) To visit his mistress.
(d) To work for a few more hours.

4. Bundoo's mother tells Asghar that she feels it hardly necessary to observe "purdah" with him. In this context, what does "purdah" refer to?
(a) The customary deference of younger people to their elders.
(b) The rules surrounding the seclusion of women from men.
(c) The customs of welcoming and hospitality.
(d) The rules separating one caste from another.

5. When Mir Nihal arrives home at the beginning of the story, what does his wife tell him about their son?
(a) He was seen in the company of a dancing girl.
(b) He should get a job soon.
(c) He should get married soon.
(d) He is spending time with a family she dislikes.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Part I, Chapter 3, what does the narrator point out there are "ever so many" of, "young ones and old ones" (14)?

2. Who is Mehro Zamani?

3. While Asghar and Begam Waheed are talking about their childhood, what can Asghar hear in the background?

4. What is ironic about Asghar's characterization of their days in Bhopal as "happy" (35)?

5. Besides being "piercing," what other quality does the narrator say Mushtari Bai's eyes have (52)?

(see the answer key)

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