1. Why does Dr. Biswas think Bim is not interested in his courtship?
(a) She is not interested in men
(b) She has dedicated her life to caring for her aunt and her brothers
(c) She wants to become a num
(d) Because she is in love with someone else

2. Who did their brother Raja admire above all?
(a) Baba
(b) Hyder Ali Sahib
(c) Roy Rogers
(d) Their father

3. What poet does Bim read to Raja to make him calm down?
(a) Byron
(b) Sylvia Plath
(c) Maya Angelou
(d) Browning

4. Who does Raja share his knowledge and dreams with in the family?
(a) Tara
(b) Baba
(c) The jet-black cat
(d) Bimla

5. Why can't they visit more often?
(a) Their daughters do not like Bim or Baba
(b) Bakul is in foreign service and stationed in many different cities in the world
(c) Bakul cannot drive
(d) Tara is afraid of travelling

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Bim return with from Hyder Ali Sahib's house?

2. What talent did their brother Raja have that developed into a career for him?

3. Why did her father give her mother injections?

4. What overcomes Tara when she is at her family home?

5. What are the names of the people everyone is talking about that summer, according to this novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Tara begin to spend time with the Misras sisters?

2. Describe Bakul's appearance and behavior, and discuss his attitude towards his work and towards his wife.

3. How is Old Delhi different from New Delhi? Re-read the parts describing the city and note the words the author uses. Do the words create a sense of place?

4. Why do you think the children's parents are at the club playing bridge every night?

5. Why does Raja choose Hindu College over his original choice?

6. What is symbolic about the father's car that was left in the garage after his death?

7. Describe how Bim sees her brother's poems now.

8. What is Tara's purpose in coming to the family home?

9. Why is Bim's conversation with the elder Misras important to the plot?

10. Why does the tea party with Dr. Biswas, his mother and Bim go badly?

(see the answer keys)

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