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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. How does the text gloss “naya tak-a-tak”?

2. Which of the following does Abdul wish to buy?

3. What is the name of Asha’s husband?

4. Which of the following improvements does Zehrunisa want for her home?

5. What do Manju and Meena cook for Asha’s political supervisor’s meeting?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what reason does Asha greet petitioners in a housedress?

2. Why is Fatima unable to take Asha’s offer of compromise with Zehrunisa?

3. Why does Abdul hide in his storage shed?

4. What is the purpose of the beatings local police administer to their detainees?

5. Why do people attend the meeting requested by Asha’s political supervisor?

6. Why had Sunil refused to beg for money at the local orphanage?

7. Why does Abdul think his heart is too small?

8. How does Sunil spend his first disposable income?

9. Why is Avinash unsuitable to be a slumlord?

10. What is Abdul’s primary operating principle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Boo repeatedly uses the word “tension” in the text. Explicate its various uses and overall meaning within the book.

Essay Topic 2

Consider the ending of the text. Does it satisfy? How or how not?

Essay Topic 3

Consider the quotation prefacing Part Two: The Business of Burning: “Rich people fight about stupid things. Why shouldn’t poor people do the same?” (69). To what extent does it correspond with the contents of the book as a whole? What in the text shows as much, and how does it do so?

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This section contains 495 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample