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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. After the narrator argues with Ila on Brick Street, how long is it before he sees her again?

2. In 1964, what did some men throw at the school bus the narrator and other boys were riding home?

3. What is the narrator wearing when he waks from Charing Cross to Stockwell and Ila is disgusted by his clothes?

4. When May and the narrator met again after Ila's wedding, how long had it been since May's visit to India to see Tridib?

5. On the night in 1940 when Dan grew tired of sleeping on mattresses below the stairs, where had the roommates gone to a demonstration?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Alan Tresawsen die?

2. What happened when Tridib, May, and the narrator were driving to the Diamond Harbor?

3. Why does May say that Nick left his job in Kuwait?

4. What did May and the narrator do after breakfast the morning after he stayed at her flat?

5. What does Nick do for Ila and her housemates?

6. How did Mike die?

7. Why does Ila think there is a kind of heroism in the deaths of Alan and Dan?

8. Why does Nick say that he left his job in Kuwait?

9. What does the narrator say about Tha'mma's job?

10. How does Tha'mma feel about a promotion Shaheb receives?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are several versions regarding how Nick lost his job. What versions are there regarding how Nick lost his job? Why is the version Nick tells biased and not totally true?

Essay Topic 2

The setting in a book is the place or places where the action takes place. Where does the story take place? Is the setting simply a backdrop to the story and characters or does it take on the role of a character?

Essay Topic 3

Even though they are cousins, the narrator has feelings for Ila. How long did the narrator have feelings for Ila? Why could those feelings never be acted upon?

(see the answer keys)

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