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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 the name of the parrot at Vijaya's?

2. What kind of staff does Will use?

3. Who is Muchalinda?

4. How did Will feel the moment Molly died?

5. What are the scarecrows?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the most dangerous element to recognize in children and why is it the most dangerous?

2. Why does Murugan view the ceremony at the temple with open contempt?

3. In Pala, what is "grace" and how does this version of "grace" differ from ours?

4. What is Will's incarnation of evil?

5. What is the symbolism of the Scarecrows? Quote from the book and then simplify.

6. Explain why Mrs. Narayan is a justified optimist.

7. What is the difference between the Palanese use of Pavlovian conditioning versus the rest of the world?

8. What is Leela Rao's position on the island? What makes her important?

9. What is the idea behind repetition in a religious nature?

10. What does Will tell Susila on impulse and how does he expect her to react?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a 2000-word essay on the contrasts of light and darkness throughout the book, and the significance of this theme to the plot development. Why do you think the author chooses to use this theme?

Essay Topic 2

What could lead Will to believe that Murugan was having a sexual relationship with Colonel Dipa? Is this a valid conclusion based on the evidence in the first few chapters? What argues for this logic? What argues against it? Quote your supporting statements from the book.

Essay Topic 3

"Which is better? To be born stupid into an intelligent society, or intelligent into an insane one?" Why is it better? Support your argument with at least three major points and three supporting statements for each major point.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 926 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample