Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

PAGES 1-51

Reading Check

1. What does Lakshmi hope to buy with her cucumber money?

2. What does the stepfather do all day?

3. What does the stepfather win on the night of the festival?

4. What type of position is Lakshmi encouraged to seek?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why is Ama’s back stooped, both literally and figuratively?

2. Why is her friend Gita not around anymore?

Paired Resources

Hillside Village in Nepal

• This 8-minute video shows clips from a hillside village in Nepal similar to where Lakshmi lives. It shows the rough terrain, steep paths, and rice fields.
• Shared themes include How Gender Affects Childhood and The Importance of Hope, Faith, and Friendship in Overcoming Hardship.
• How does this video change your understanding of how Lakshmi and her family live?

Tihar: The Festival of Lights

• This article covers the legends and traditions of the festival that Lakshmi and her mother celebrate in this section.
• A shared theme is The Importance of Hope, Faith, and Friendship in Overcoming Hardship.