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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 type of boy does Noni hope Sai is in love with?

2. Who does Sai visit first while hoping Gyan will come back?

3. What are Lola and Noni suddenly forced to face when they find they are no longer protected by the law?

4. In the judge' s memories of the last time he saw his friend Bose at a restaurant, what had they talked about?

5. What is Biju doing as his father struggles to survive in the village that's been shut down?

Short Essay Questions

1. Are the characters searching for Mutt in chapter 49 all actually searching for someone else? If so, for whom are they searching?

2. What does the judge's reaction to Mutt's disappearance in chapter 46 reveal about his character?

3. In chapter 39, why does Sai remain silent about her feelings for Gyan when Uncle Potty, Lola, and Noni ask questions or offer advice?

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

5. How is the cook's reaction to the worst of the civil unrest in chapter 44 unique?

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

7. In chapter 34, what is the significance of Father Booty's deportation after living in Kalimong for 45 years?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

How does the judge's house during the rainy season symbolize what is happening to the judge himself? What does this have to do with his past, and the way he lives his life today?

Essay Topic 3

What happens to the system of justice in the Indian village as the GNLF men take over? Explain how one of the characters in the novel is unfairly victimized by this situation. Do you think the people should have fought harder against the unfair policies? Do you think they should have tried to organize and fought back as one large body? Would this have been an effective technique? Or would this just have made things worse?

(see the answer keys)

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