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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. Where does Bim go with the Doctor?

2. How does Bim react to his interest?

3. What happens when Raja's friends at Hindu College find out he believes the idea of Pakistan is feasible?

4. Where does Raja say he will go?

5. What does Mulk accuse his sisters of doing to him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Bim show the letter from Raja to Tara?

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

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

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

5. What is the importance in the plot of the Misras brother, Mulk, and his drunkeness

6. Describe Aunt Mira's behavior in this chapter.

7. How does Tara feel about her youth? What makes her feel that way?

8. Why does Raja refuse to take over the family business?

9. 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?

10. Why does Dr. Biswas feel a sense of failure after talking to Bim about Raja's tuberculosis?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The children are present on the banks of the Jumna River when Hyder Ali Sahib rides by on his fine white horse. How do each of the children remember this incident, and how does it affect them? Describe it from the viewpoint of Raja, Bim, Tara and Baba.

Essay Topic 2

Read over the passages of Baba's thoughts and the description of the young man in Part 1. How does he deal with the world? How does he perceive the world? Could he live independently of Bim?

Essay Topic 3

Raja admires Hyder Ali Sahib from the moment he first sees him. How did Hyder Ali Sahib's attention to the young Hindi man affect Raja's life?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 611 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample