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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What causes Mir Nihal to be so depressed that he does not fly his pigeons one afternoon in Chapter 2?
(a) The heat-related deaths of some of his birds.
(b) The diminishing role he plays in his own household.
(c) His concern over the illness of Begam Jamal and Masroor.
(d) His worries over Babban Jan.

2. What is ironic about Asghar's characterization of their days in Bhopal as "happy" (35)?
(a) Begam Waheed argued against him being sent to live with her.
(b) The reader is aware that Asghar is not really capable of happiness.
(c) He has repeatedly told Bundoo how unhappy he was in Bhopal.
(d) The two stories he recalls from that time are not really happy ones.

3. What is Mizra Nasirul Mulk's relationship to Bahadur Shah?
(a) He is Bahadur Shah's nephew.
(b) He is Bahadur Shah's son.
(c) He is Bahadur Shah's Lord Governor's son.
(d) He is Bahadur Shah's great-grandson.

4. What was the cause of Asghar, Begam Waheed, and Begam Nihal being sent away to live somewhere else when Asghar was a child?
(a) Mir Nihal could not afford to keep everyone in his house.
(b) Begam Waheed had an interest in a boy the family disliked.
(c) Begam Nihal was mentally unwell.
(d) Asghar had angered his father.

5. Why does Asghar go to see Mushtari Bai in Chapter 11?
(a) He wants to ask Mushtair Bai to keep their relationship a secret.
(b) He owes Mushtari Bai money.
(c) Bari thinks it will cheer Asghar up.
(d) Bari asks Asghar to introduce him to Mushtari Bai.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Ali say caused the British paranoia about Muslim scholars that resulted in their violent suppression of the "Wahabi" conspiracy (xii)?

2. Where does Mir Nihal go on most evenings after dinner in Part I?

3. Who is Nisar Ahmad?

4. What is the organizing strategy of the introduction's opening?

5. By what year does the Introduction say the British East India Company had established control of India?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the trick Mir Nihal plays on his neighbor with his pigeons.

2. Why did Ahmed Ali write Twilight in Delhi in English?

3. What does Asghar dream about in Chapter 2?

4. When Begam Nihal and Begam Waheed argue about Asghar's marriage in Chapter 7, what does each woman argue would be best for Asghar?

5. Describe Mir Nihal's Afghan friend, Kambal Shah.

6. What is Begam Nihal's objection to Bilqeece's family?

7. Who is Saeed Hasan, and why does he come to visit Begam Nihal?

8. When Asghar sees the sad-looking old man on the street, what realization does he have about his own life, and why?

9. What criticisms does Mir Nihal make about his son Asghar in Chapter 1?

10. How did Asghar come to be raised in Bhopal?

(see the answer keys)

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