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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. On page 53, what does Mushtari Bai compare herself to?
(a) A "candle which tempts the moths."
(b) An "evil-smelling flower."
(c) An "oasis in the desert."
(d) A "new flower in bloom."

2. In Part II, Chapter 4, what thought makes Mir Nihal suddenly feel guilty and stop eating?
(a) He has neglected his responsibilities to his wife and children.
(b) He was not present at Babban Jan's death because he was busy with his birds.
(c) Babban Jan is dead and he should not be enjoying himself.
(d) The deaths of the pigeons were a result of his distraction over a mistress.

3. What does Mir Sangi claim his cousin accidentally succeeded in making silver from?
(a) Iron.
(b) Water.
(c) Tin.
(d) Sand.

4. What word do the older people like Begam Nihal use to refer to the place where they live?
(a) Hindustan.
(b) Aryavarta.
(c) Bharat.
(d) Nabhivarsha.

5. What does Mir Nihal tell his wife will happen if Asghar insists on marrying Bilqeece?
(a) He will divorce Begam Nihal.
(b) He will kill Asghar.
(c) He will cut off financial support to Begam Nihal.
(d) He will disown Asghar.

6. Which residents of Delhi are described in the first page and a half of Part II, Chapter 6?
(a) Vendors.
(b) Islamic clergy.
(c) Soldiers.
(d) Beggars.

7. What is ironic about Asghar's characterization of their days in Bhopal as "happy" (35)?
(a) Begam Waheed argued against him being sent to live with her.
(b) The reader is aware that Asghar is not really capable of happiness.
(c) He has repeatedly told Bundoo how unhappy he was in Bhopal.
(d) The two stories he recalls from that time are not really happy ones.

8. What do Begam Nihal and Begam Waheed decided to do to celebrate Asghar's engagement?
(a) Buy Asghar some charms and amulets.
(b) Invite the qawwali singers to the house.
(c) Have a meelad read.
(d) Donate money to the mosque.

9. What happy news do the Nihals receive in Part I, Chapter 5?
(a) Begum Waheed is coming to visit them.
(b) A wealthy man has proposed to their youngest daughter.
(c) Mir Nihal's lace business has turned a record profit.
(d) Their son has finally chosen someone to marry.

10. Who is Nisar Ahmad?
(a) Mir Nihal's son-in-law.
(b) Mir Nihal's partner in the lace business.
(c) The muezzin at Mir Nihal's mosque.
(d) A former lover of Babban Jan's.

11. What does Begam Nihal say is causing the illness in the Nihal household?
(a) Typhoid.
(b) Dengue.
(c) Malaria.
(d) Heatstroke.

12. After Begam Waheed gives Asghar the good news about his mother deciding he can marry Bilqeece, what advice does she give Asghar?
(a) He should come back to Bhopal with her.
(b) He should go and make peace with his father.
(c) He should make sure that Bilqeece really wants to marry him.
(d) He should go speak to Begam Shahbaz himself.

13. Who is the poet who wrote the words to the song that Gul Bano sings?
(a) Mir Taqi Mir.
(b) Bahadur Shah.
(c) Ghalib.
(d) Mir Babar Ali Anis.

14. What do the adults tell the children causes dust storms?
(a) One of the children has told an elder a lie.
(b) The ifrit are rising up from their underground caves.
(c) The heat is trying to chase the rain away.
(d) The jinns are getting ready to celebrate a wedding.

15. In Part I, Chapter 4, who asks Asghar, "When are we going to hear the good news of your marriage?" (20)?
(a) Mir Nihal.
(b) Bilqeece.
(c) Bundoo.
(d) His sister-in-law.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the organizing strategy of the introduction's opening?

2. What does Ali say caused the British paranoia about Muslim scholars that resulted in their violent suppression of the "Wahabi" conspiracy (xii)?

3. What is Molvi Dulhan dressed like in Part II?

4. What is the main subject of Part I, Chapter 5?

5. What point does the narrator make in Part II, Chapter 7 about the living descendants of Bahadur Shah?

(see the answer keys)

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