1 What religion does Dr. Ebenezer try to discredit at the beginning of the novel? Taoism Islam Buddhism Hinduism 2 What information about Rajam does Swami tell his granny to try and impress her? Rajam gets 100 marks on all his exams. Rajam's father owns a very fancy car. Rajam plays cricket very well. Rajam killed a tiger when he was a small boy. 3 What is Swami's first reaction to hearing that his mother is having a baby? Great curiosity over what his baby brother might be like Great excitement about having a baby brother Fear over the attention that the brother will take away from him Lack of enthusiasm 4 What are all the actions that Swami takes in order to prepare his house for Rajam's visit? He forbids his granny from calling on Rajam, asks his mother to prepare a nice snack and wear a clean dhoti, and takes over his father's room. He cleans the house, prepares afternoon coffee, takes over his father's room, and washes his clothes. He forbids his granny from calling on Rajam, takes over his father's room, and cleans his dhoti. He tells granny all about Rajam and introduces her when he arrives at their house. 5 How is Rajam able to reconcile and bring all of Swami's friends back together again? By having Swami apologize to everyone By admitting his arrogance and apologizing By having his father mediate between them By promising them prizes from his house 6 After the examination, his friends discuss their answers. What lie does Swami tell his friends about his exam? He found the exam easier than expected. He finished a half hour early. He wrote a half-page response to a question. He was surprised by how hard the exam was. 7 How do Rajam and Swami brainstorm getting money from the coachman? They try and kidnap the coachman's son. They tell Rajam's father, the police superintendent, to arrest him. They tell the coachman's son that they will gift him a special prize if he gives them the money. They bring their band of friends together to the coachman's house and threaten to beat him up. 8 Where do Swami and Rajam meet for their duel and eventually reconcile? Board High School The river Sarayu Swami's house Albert Mission School 9 Why are Swami and Mani deeply embarrassed when they enter the door to Rajam's house? Rajam is nowhere to be found. Their ex-friends had gathered and accused Swami of being a tail. They feel insecure in Rajam's wealthy house. Their ex-friends had been watching them pretend to be a blind kitten and puppy. 10 What reason does Swami cite to the Board High School headmaster for why he needs to leave his class early every day? He says that he has a headache. He says that his baby brother needs him. He says that he has delirium. He says that his mother is sick and that he needs to go home early. 11 While his father guides Swami through a question involving mangoes, what question does Swami pose to his father? He asks how much a single mango is worth. He asks whether the mangoes are ripe or not. He asks if the seller is willing to bargain. He asks whether it is the correct season for mangoes. 12 How does Swami lose his cap in the protests? His father takes away his cap as punishment for going to the protest. Someone yells that his cap is made in a foreign country, and he throws it away in embarrassment. His cap is stolen by a police officer. His cap falls off in the bustle of the protests and he's unable to retrieve it. 13 What is Swami's father's opinion of the police superintendent, Rajam's father? He thinks the superintendent is a butcher. He thinks the superintendent is necessary to keep law and order. He thinks the superintendent should have been more aggressive against the protestors. He thinks the superintendent lost control of his officers despite his good intentions. 14 What is Swami specifically accused of the day after by the headmaster's peon? He is accused of defacing the facade of the school building. He is accused of throwing stones and breaking the windowpanes of the headmaster's room. He is accused of bullying his classmates who refused to join the strike. He is accused of urging other classmates to strike from school and attend the protests. 15 What is Rajam's opinion of Swami's new school, the Board High School? He wishes that he could join Swami in his new school as he is miserable at the Albert Mission School. He misses Swami but hopes that the Board High School is a good fit for him. He thinks it provides an inferior education and looks down upon it. He wishes Swami would leave the Board High School and return to the Albert Mission School. 16 When Rajam suggests that they form a cricket team, what name do they end up settling with? M.C.C., Malgudi Cricket Club Friends Union Jumping Stars Excelsior Union 17 What is the boys' response to the letter that they receive from the sporting goods shop, Messrs Binns? They realize that they cannot afford the amount that the company wants for the equipment. They do not understand the meaning of its language and think the letter must have been incorrectly sent to them. They send the requested amount of money in the mail and excitedly wait for their equipment. They argue over who should make the payment. 18 What is granny's reaction to Swami's news about forming a new cricket team? She thinks he should be focusing on his studies, not on sports. She doesn't know what cricket is. She is very happy for him. She worries about his physical safety. 19 How does Swami's attitude toward his new school, the Board High School, change over time? He can't keep up with the increased load of homework and begs his father to let him return to the Albert Mission School. He resents the larger load of homework and starts to grow nostalgic for the Albert Mission School. He becomes closer with his new classmates and socially adjusts to his new life. He is relieved that he no longer has to take scripture classes with Dr. Ebenezer. 20 Why is Swami late to every cricket practice? His timetable at the Board High School lets him out later than the rest of the team's players. He often gets held back at school because he gets into trouble. He dreads going to cricket practice. He gets distracted by his granny when he returns home from school. 21 When he visits the doctor to ask for a certificate excusing his early departure from class, he explains that he has delirium. What does he cite as its symptoms? He says that he cannot concentrate in class. He says that he has hallucinations. He speculates that it is a stomachache. He says that he has a headache. 22 Why does Swami not tell Rajam his plan to run away before he leaves? He thinks Rajam will try and stop him as him running away would put their cricket game in jeopardy. He doesn't want Rajam to worry. He doesn't want to Rajam to tell anyone else. The bell rings and Rajam has to leave abruptly. 23 While walking through the woods at night, hungry and exhausted, what does Swami hallucinate? He dreams that he is back playing cricket with his team. He dreams that he is surrounded by a tiger, elephant, lion, and whale. He mistakes a tree trunk for his mother. He thinks that his father has come to rescue him. 24 Why does Rajam not get in the car to see Swami? He is too busy with the cricket game. He is upset that Swami has missed the cricket game and professes to no longer care about him. There is not enough space in the car. He thinks Swami will be fine and resolves to see him after the game. 25 Why does Swami end up gifting Rajam a volume of Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales? He knows that Rajam likes fairy tales. Andersen is one of Swami's favorite authors. It's the only book that he respects and has too many unpronounceable English words for him to read completely. He hopes that it will serve as a positive token of their friendship.
