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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. Why do Sai and her neighbors travel to Darjeeling in March?

2. As the situation in Kalimpong worsens, what happens to Lola and Noni's property?

3. What does the cook demand the judge do to him when he returns home without his dog?

4. How does Gyan's grandmother respond to his being part of the liberation effort?

5. What book does Sai read while hoping Gyan will come back?

Short Essay Questions

1. In chapter 31, what does Sai's assertion that it is unwise to read old books tell the reader about her?

2. Which of the characters has not lost everything by the end of the novel?

3. What do Biju's childhood memories reveal about his character?

4. How does the women's discussion about religion in the library reflect the events that surround them?

5. In chapter 30, what does Harish-Harry tell Biju that illustrates how naive he is about the situation of the illegal immigrants who work for him?

6. Would the judge's character be different if his father had not sent him away to school?

7. In chapter 30, why does the cook suddenly begin having superstitious fears for Biju's life?

8. As revealed in chapter 32, what role did Bose play in transforming the judge's identity?

9. In chapter 36, what does Biju point out to Mr. Iype that illustrates Biju's ideas about immigration?

10. In chapter 40, how does Sai react when she discovers that Gyan lives in poverty and what does this signify?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The judge and Biju are both victims of very different types of Indian tokenization while they are abroad. The judge is allowed to join the ICS only because they want more Indian members. Biju is not permitted to apply for a green card only because he is an Indian, and there are too many Indians who want one. How is each character ultimately affected by the knowledge that he is being categorized solely on the basis of his ethnicity? Does the judge see his experience as good luck and Biju see his as bad? How do these experiences relate to the two characters' feelings about their Indian identity? How do the experiences affect their character development later on?

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think the cook remains with the judge, even though the judge is distant and treats him unkindly? Why do you think the cook lies about being mistreated, rather than trying to do something about it? Do you think he would have remained with the judge if Sai had never come to stay with them? What role does Sai play in the cook's life?

Essay Topic 3

Biju and the judge were both sent away by their fathers in order to have a better life. Compare and contrast the two characters' experiences abroad, and how they ultimately affected each character. Why do you think things turned out so differently for the two characters? Does it have to do with their experiences? Their upbringing? Their personality?

(see the answer keys)

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