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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Khwaja Ashraf Ali see in the cage that Nazir is carrying through the Chowk?
(a) Two of his own pigeons.
(b) The bodies of the pigeons that died of heat.
(c) Several of Hakim Bashir's Kabuli pigeons.
(d) Rare pigeons that Mir Nihal has bought at the Chowk.

2. When Begam Nihal is asked to tell the story of the Mutiny, the word "Farangis" is used (6). What does this word mean?
(a) Marketplace gossips.
(b) Government officials.
(c) Foreigners, especially Europeans.
(d) Military officers.

3. After Begam Waheed gives Asghar the good news about his mother deciding he can marry Bilqeece, what advice does she give Asghar?
(a) He should go speak to Begam Shahbaz himself.
(b) He should go and make peace with his father.
(c) He should come back to Bhopal with her.
(d) He should make sure that Bilqeece really wants to marry him.

4. What does the narrator say prevents the world from being "a barren desert in which no oasis exists" (91)?
(a) Hope.
(b) Charity.
(c) Love.
(d) Faith.

5. What does Mushtari Bai mean when she compares Asghar to "the moon of Eed" (53)?
(a) She knows that Asghar does not really love her.
(b) She feels betrayed by the way Asghar has treated her.
(c) She suspects that Asghar has fallen in love with someone else.
(d) She gets frustrated waiting to see Asghar.

6. During the discussion of alchemy, what does Kambal Shah say would happen if everyone had equal wealth?
(a) People would have the leisure to draw closer to God.
(b) People would become vain and forget God.
(c) People would learn to love one another more sincerely.
(d) People would find another kind of hierarchy to follow.

7. When Asghar arrives at Bari's house, what is his friend doing?
(a) Reading a book of poetry.
(b) Kite fighting.
(c) Smoking a hookah.
(d) Flying pigeons.

8. What does the Part II, Chapter 5 description of Red Beard stress?
(a) His boisterousness.
(b) His dignity.
(c) His unattractiveness.
(d) His gentleness.

9. What is the main idea of the epigraph on the book's title page?
(a) Despite its colonial status, Delhi remains an important world capital.
(b) The Indian people must hold the British to account for their cruelty.
(c) The people of Delhi should push harder to end colonial rule.
(d) Delhi has undergone a significant decline under colonial rule.

10. 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 customs of welcoming and hospitality.
(b) The customary deference of younger people to their elders.
(c) The rules separating one caste from another.
(d) The rules surrounding the seclusion of women from men.

11. What does Begam Nihal say is causing the illness in the Nihal household?
(a) Dengue.
(b) Malaria.
(c) Typhoid.
(d) Heatstroke.

12. On page 53, what does Mushtari Bai compare herself to?
(a) An "oasis in the desert."
(b) A "candle which tempts the moths."
(c) A "new flower in bloom."
(d) An "evil-smelling flower."

13. What conclusion does Mir Nihan come to during his conversation with Nawab Puttan in Part II?
(a) He should try to build a relationship with Begam Nihal instead of with a mistress.
(b) Many of his problems began with the lie about spending time with Nawab Puttan.
(c) It is time to get Mehro married and settled in Bhopal.
(d) He has no good reason to continue to oppose Asghar's marriage.

14. What caused Ahmed Ali to be unable to return to India?
(a) The partition of India and Pakistan.
(b) The Indian government's anger over his writings.
(c) The outbreak of World War I.
(d) His decision to renounce his Indian citizenship.

15. In what city does the man who wants to marry the Nihals' daughter live?
(a) Calcutta.
(b) Madras.
(c) Bhopal.
(d) Delhi.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do the adults tell the children causes dust storms?

2. Who are the Mughals?

3. Why does Mir Nihal not go into work on Saturday after a cat attacked his pigeons?

4. What advice does Bari give Asghar about his love life?

5. When Begam Nihal tells her husband that he can buy more pigeons to replace those that have died, how does he react?

(see the answer keys)

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