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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 did Zainab do with the crow he found trapped in Chapter 10?

2. What did Miss Jebeen the Second's mother swear she would live and die by in the conclusion of her letter from Chapter 10?

3. What did Saddam delete when pressed by Zainib after proposing to her in Chapter 10?

4. Where was Miss Jebeen buried?

5. What had the hijras decorated Tilo's room as in Chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where were Musa's recoveries stored? Why?

2. How have the circumstances of Biplab Dasgupta's life changed in the opening of Chapter 11?

3. How has Biplab Dasgupta's outlook on Indian politics changed by Chapter 11?

4. What did Biplab Dasgupta ask Musa about Amrik Singh in Chapter 11? How did Musa reply?

5. Why was the young Kahmiri boy brought in by Ashfaq Mir in Chapter 8? How is he described?

6. What did Amrik Singh give to Musa after his wife's death? Why?

7. What questions are posed to the reader regarding the men crushed by the truck in Chapter 8? Why are these questions significant?

8. How is the theme of gender expectations explored in Chapter 10?

9. What animal symbolism appears in Chapter 10?

10. Why did Tilo flee in Chapter 8? Who did she enlist to help her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss elements of animal symbolism in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. What are some of the animals that the author focuses on in the Prologue and in the final chapter? What do these animals symbolize to you? What is their purpose in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author's use of literary techniques to build suspense in the novel. How are foreshadowing, red herrings, and/or irony used to build tension in the story? How does the author's pacing increase suspense?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the narrative style of The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. From what narrative point of view is the novel related? Are there changes from this narrative style? Where and why? Why does the author apply this approach?

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