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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 price was decided upon for Maharani Latika’s henna supplies?

2. What is the name that Radha first calls Lakshmi?

3. Why is Sheela Sharma an unconventional match for Ravi Singh?

4. What kind of henna meant the woman was loved by her husband?

5. Why was Kanta able to do graduate studies in England?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some etiquette lessons that Lakshmi is trying to teach Radha?

2. Why are children so important to Indian men?

3. Describe the relationship between Lakshmi and her mother-in-law.

4. Why does Lakshmi feel pressure regarding Kanta, as a client?

5. Why did the women of the upper caste choose Lakshmi over the women of the Shudra caste?

6. Why do Indian parents hurry to marry off their children?

7. What does Radha do, when Mrs. Iyengar enters the room, to cover up Mrs. Harris’ groans?

8. Why did Lakshmi's ladies feel comfortable sharing private information with her?

9. What led Lakshmi’s and Radha’s father to alcoholism?

10. In 1950s India, did individual shame exist? How does Lakshmi explain shame in her culture?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the main characters from this book and describe his or her character development throughout the story. What leads to this development? How do other characters and the events surrounding him or her influence him or her? Overall, what are your thoughts about this character? Did your opinion regarding this character stay the same or change? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

What does the writer want the reader to get out of this book? What is her purpose for writing this novel? Has she succeeded? If so, how? If not, why not?

Essay Topic 3

Cultural influence is strong in this story. Describe Indian culture of the 1950s and how it influences the characters of this book. Describe your own culture, as well as the broader U.S. culture today. How are you influenced by the culture in which you were born, as well as the culture of the world in which you live? Are there clashes between these two cultures, or do they seem to be one culture, rather than two, fitting seamlessly together? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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