Interpreter of Maladies

This flexible-use quiz is designed for reading comprehension assessment and activity needs in classroom, home-schooling and other settings. Questions connect to the text’s plot, characters, and themes — and align with the content and chapter organization in the rest of this study guide. Use quizzes as pre-reading hooks, reading checks, discussion starters, entrance/exit “tickets,” small group activities, writing activities, and lessons on finding evidence and support in a text.

Depth of Knowledge Levels: Questions require respondents to demonstrate ability to: 

1. Recall and Understand Content (e.g., who, what, where, when) 
2. Apply and Analyze Ideas (e.g., how and why)

1. What has caused the strain in Shoba and Shukumar’s relationship?

A) an affair

B) financial problems

C) a miscarriage

D) the death of a parent

2. Which detail shows the reader the strain in Shoba and Shukumar’s relationship?

A) They watch TV in separate rooms.

B) Shukumar frequently fantasizes about other women.

C) The house is in disrepair, and they’re making no effort to fix it.

D) There is a dwindling supply of homemade food provisions.

3. Why didn’t Shukumar tip the waiter on the couple’s first date?

A) He didn’t know it was customary in America.

B) He was distracted by thoughts of Shoba.

C) The waiter insulted him.

D) Shoba had already left a tip.

4. What circumstance leads Shoba and Shukumar to open up to each other each night?

A) a nightly planned power outage by the city