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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. What is distinguishing about Sampath when he is born?

2. Where does the Chawla family seek help in Chapter 6?

3. How does Kulfi feel towards Sampath as Mr. Chawla is scolding him in Chapter 3?

4. In Chapter 3, what news does Pinky think is more interesting than the news Mr. Chawla reads

5. What does the Chawla family hear about a guava tree in Chapter 6?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Pinky feel about all the attention given to her brother? What happens when she goes to the bazaar, and what does Mr. Chawla tell her to do about it?

2. How did Kulfi end up married to Mr. Chawla?

3. Why does a reporter from the atheist society talk to Sampath, and what happens when he does talk to Sampath?

4. What happens to Amma and Pinky when they go to the denture market?

5. What is going on with Sampath at the beginning of Chapter 2?

6. How does Kulfi feel about Sampath living in the tree, and what does she do for him?

7. Why does the reporter from the atheist society think Sampath might be on drugs, and what does the reporter decide to do?

8. What does Sampath do when he is given a pile of letters at work in Chapter 4?

9. How does the Chawla family react to Sampath’s disappearance in Chapter 6?

10. What is the problem in Shahkot, India, and what are some of the ways the people think to try and solve the problem?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are many different types of characters in a novel, each with their own role and purpose.

Identify the protagonists of the story and why you believe they are such. Identify the antagonists of the story and why you believe they are such. Which three secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot? Which, if any, characters are not essential to the story? Explain.

Define the literary term "genre" and name three other genres in addition to the social criticism, satire genre. What are the advantages and disadvantages of assigning a genre to a novel? What do you think is the difference between a social criticism satire and a historical novel or mystery?

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about what they know, so sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting.

Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Kiran Desai. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Desai's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Desai's probable agenda concerning that idea.

Essay Topic 3

At the wedding party, Sampath attempts to find a new identity and leave his old, unhappy life behind him. By mooning his boss and the wedding guests, Sampath is showing his true feelings about them--that is, total disregard.

Why do you think Sampath chooses the wedding as the starting point for his rebellion against his life? How might a wedding be symbolic of a new start for Sampath? Do you think his method of demonstrating how he feels about his boss and the guests at the wedding is immature? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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