An Astrologer's Day MCQ with answers Class 11 English First Semester WBBHSE
RK Narayan's An Astrologer's Day MCQ :
1. The writer of the story ‘An Astrologer‘s Day’ is –
(a) Sister Nivedita
(a) R. K. Narayan
(c) Margaret Noble
(d) Mulk Raj Anand
2. Where does the astrologer set up his business?
(a) Temple courtyard
(b) Railway station
(c) Market Street under a tree
(d) Outside a police station
3. What kind of tree is mentioned at his workplace? Or under which tree does the astrologer sit to draw his customer?
(a) Banyan
(b) Tamarind
(c) Mango
(d) Peepal
4. The astrologer used to open his shop –
(a) at night
(b) at morning
(c) at noon
(d) at afternoon
5. The astrologer used to carry his professional equipment in a –
(a) bag
(b) box
(c) van
(d) basket
6. The time duration of the story ‘An Astrologer’s Day’ is
(a) midday to evening
(b) midday to nearly midnight
(c) midnight to midday
(d) midnight to morning
7. The astrologer represents the character trail of
(a) honesty
(b) hypocrisy
(c) fellow-feeling
(d) simplicity
8. Why does the astrologer work in the dark?
(a) He is a night owl
(b) To benefit from the poor lighting and mysterious atmosphere
(c) He has another job in the morning
(d) He is forbidden to work in daylight
9. What creates the mystical ambiance around him?
(a) Smoke and dim light
(b) Sacred mantras
(c) Musical instruments
(d) Scented candles
10. What does the astrologer carry with him?
(a) Books and lamps
(b) Tarot cards and coins
(c) Cowrie shells, charts, and religious items
(d) A telescope and compass
11. The path where he used to sit is always – / The path running through the town hall park remained –
(a) always lonely
(b) very crowded
(c) deserted
(d) less crowded
12. Among the professional equipment of the astrologer, there was a bundle of –
(a) square clothes pieces
(b) notebooks
(c) palmyra writing
(d) Cowries
13. The square piece of cloth contained –
(a) sacred ash
(b) indistinct charts
(c) writings
(d) cowrie shells
14. The forehead of the astrologer was –
(a) bare and empty
(b) covered with dust
(c) embellished with ash and vermilion
(d) wrapped in a piece of cloth
15. The clients of the astrologer were comforted by his –
(a) resplendent forehead
(b) professional equipment
(c) gleam in his eyes
(d) saffron coloured turban
16. The colour of the astrologer’s turban was –
(a) vermilion
(b) saffron
(c) white
(d) ashen
17. “He sat under the boughs of a spreading ______________tree.” – The right word to fill in the blank is –
(a) banyan
(b) mango
(c) acacia
(d) tamarind
18. How is the people’s attraction to the astrologer compared ? –
(a) Like ants to jaggery
(b) like bees to flowers
(c) like butterflies to flowers
(d) like mosquitoes to humans
19. The colour which never failed with the people was –
(a) white
(b) yellow
(c) green
(d) saffron
20. How was the path that ran through the town hall park lit by?
(a) shop lights
(b) municipality lights
(c) street lamps
(d) gaslights
21. The astrologer’s turban gives him an air of:
(a) Royalty
(b) Intelligence
(c) Wisdom
(d) Innocence
22. His forehead was resplendent with
(a) sacred ash and vermilion
(b) vermilion and chandan
(c) sacred ash and chandan
(d) sacred ash and saffron colour
23. The dark whiskers of the astrologer
(a) streamed down his cheeks
(b) streamed down his shoulder
(c) streamed down his eyes
(d) streamed down his nose
24. What, according to the author, crowned the affect of the astrologer’s appearance?
(a) Sacred ash on the forehead
(b) Vermilion on the forehead
(c) Searching look that attracted clients
(d) A saffron-coloured turban around his head
25. What is the astrologer’s real knowledge of astrology?
(a) He is highly trained
(b) He has read ancient texts
(c) He fakes it with intuition
(d) He learned from a guru
26. How does the astrologer read people effectively?
(a) Palmistry
(b) Astrological charts
(c) Observation and guessing
(d) Meditation
27. Why do people believe the astrologer?
(a) He is famous
(b) He looks convincing and says general truths
(c) He’s accurate
(d) He has a license
28. What role does the street setting play in the story?
(a) Adds religious significance
(b) Distracts from the plot
(c) Adds authenticity and chaos
(d) Shows peaceful life
29. The astrologer’s background is:
(a) Well educated
(b) Rural and mysterious
(c) From a priest family
(d) Known to all
30. What was the family profession of the astrologer?
(a) priesthood
(b) cultivation
(c) street-vendor
(d) astrologer
31. From the town of the astrologer, his own village was –
(a) in the north-east
(b) truly in the north
(c) in the north westerly direction
(d) exactly in the southern direction
32. The ‘professional equipment’ of the astrologer consists of
(a) a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic chart
(b) a notebook and a bundle of palmyra writing
(c) a dozen of cowrie shells
(d) all of the above
33. The forehead of the astrologer looked
(a) dark
(b) resplendent
(c) shadowy
(d) none of the above
34. Astrologer’s eyes sparkled with a sharp, abnormal gleam because
(a) he used eyeliner
(b) of a continual searching look for customers
(c) street-light fell on his eyes
(d) none of the above
35. Attraction of the people towards the astrologer is similar to (or compared to) diff option, keep
(a) the attraction of the bees to cosmos or dahlia flowers
(b) attraction of insects to cosmos or dahlia stalks
(c) attraction of the bird to its nest
(d) attraction of the ants to food stuff
36. The place where the astrologer would sit and wait for his clients was located
(a) at the corner of the city centre
(b) on one side of the path running through the Town Hall Park
(c) adjoining to a village park
(d) none of the above
37. The astrologer took to understand the problem of his client –
(a) ten minutes
(b) one hour
(c) half an hour
(d) five minutes
38. The names ‘Bombay Ice Cream’, ‘Delhi Almond’ and ‘Raja’s Delicacy’ were given to –
(a) hardware
(b) fruits
(c) cheap clothes
(d) groundnut
39. The most loud among the shopkeepers was the –
(a) cloth seller
(b) groundnut seller
(c) magician
(d) astrologer
40. Who gave his ware a fancy name each day?
(a) Vendor of fried groundnut
(b) Food seller
(c) Seller of clothes
(d) Seller of chanachur
41. Who dallied before the astrologer?
(a) A few persons
(b) A considerable portion of this crowd
(c) A small part of the crowd
(d) A lot of people
42. Which light helped the astrologer transact his business?
(a) The light of a flare
(b) The light of a street lamp
(c) The light of an old cycle lamp
(d) The light of the park
43. The astrologer managed his business
(a) in the street light
(b) in the gaslights
(c) without his own light
(d) with his own light
44. According to R. K. Narayan, the astrologer was as much a stranger to the stars
(a) as were his innocent customers
(b) as were the other vendors
(c) as were his family members
(d) as were the residents of Malgudi
45. Whatever the astrologer said usually
(a) pleased and astonished everyone
(b) annoyed his customers
(c) attracted the passerby
(d) failed to convince anybody
46. According to R. K. Narayan, the astrologer’s Income was
(a) as much an honest man’s labour as any other
(b) as much a dishonest man’s labour as any cheat
(c) less than an honest man’s income
(d) more than an honest man’s income
47. The astrologer was born and brought up
(a) in a farmer’s family
(b) in an astrologer’s family
(c) in an educated family
(d) in a fisherman’s family
48. If the astrologer had continued his Ille in the village, he would have carried on
(a) cultivating the land
(b) catching the fish
(c) an astrologer’s business
(d) teaching in a village pathshala
49. The present address of the astrologer Is
(a) a hundred mile away from his village home
(b) a couple of hundred miles away from his village home
(c) three hundred miles away from his village home
(d) four hundred miles away from his village home
50. As an astrologer he had a working analysis of
(a) mankind’s troubles
(b) mankind’s happy moments
(c) mankind’s progress
(d) mankind’s ambition
51. Long practice had
(a) sharpened the astrologer’s perception of human troubles
(b) sharpened the astrologers perception of human affection
(c) sharpened the astrologers perception of human entanglements
(d) sharpened the astrologers perception of human interests
52. For each question, the astrologer charged -
(a) five pies
(b) four pies
(c) three pies
(d) two pies
53. How much did the astrologer charge for his service?
(a) 3 paise for all questions
(b) 2 paise for each question
(c) 3 paise for each question
(d) 12 and half annas
54. What left the astrologer in darkness?
(a) The closing of medicine shops
(b) Rising of the cheap cloth-seller
(c) Rising of the nuts vendor
(d) Sudden load-shedding
55. What was a signal for the astrologer to bundle up the trade?
(a) blowing out the flair by the nut vendor
(b) blowing out the flair by medicine seller
(c) blowing out the flair by junk shop owner
(d) blowing out the flair by magicians
56. The nuts-vendor blew out his flare as
(a) he was tired of shouting his trade cry
(b) he wanted to go home
(c) much of his groundnut was sold
(d) the fuel of his flare exhausted
57. The blowing out of the flare by the nut vendor served as a signal to the –
(a) stranger
(b) astrologer
(c) other shopkeepers
(d) buyers
58. What is the astrologer’s business strategy?
(a) Detailed horoscopes
(b) Charging only the rich
(c) Saying what the client wants to hear
(d) Advertising his services
59. Which tool does he not actually use for astrology?
(a) Cowrie shells
(b) Palm reading
(c) Horoscopes
(d) Astrological software
60. The astrologer dresses in a way to:
(a) Attract police attention
(b) Look spiritual and wise
(c) Look modern
(d) Impress tourists
61. The author’s tone while describing the astrologer’s method is:
(a) Admiring
(b) Sarcastic and ironic
(c) Serious
(d) Angry
62. The early setting creates a sense of:
(a) Urgency
(b) Peace
(c) Suspense and deception
(d) Celebration
63. Who approaches the astrologer late in the evening?
(a) His friend
(b) A police officer
(c) Guru Nayak
(d) His old customer
64. How was Guru Nayak described initially?
(a) Polite and respectful
(b) Suspicious and aggressive
(c) Quiet and confused
(d) Nervous and hasty
65. The coin flung to the astrologer by Guru Nayak was –
(a) An anna
(b) Two anna
(c) A rupee
(d) two rupee
66. The stranger was smoking –
(a) cigarette
(b) bidi
(c) cheroot
(d) hookah
67. How did the astrologer recognize the stranger?
(a) by tubelight
(b) by matchlight
(c) by the light of cheroot
(d) by green shaft of light
68. The astrologer caught the sight of the stranger’s face in the light of –
(a) the flare
(b) cycle lamp
(c) candle
(d) match
69. What did Guru Nayak first demand?
(a) To know the future
(b) To have his palm read
(c) A refund
(d) A cigarette
70. The astrologer at first:
(a) Welcomes him
(b) Recognizes him immediately
(c) Is irritated
(d) Is surprised and tries to avoid him
71. What does Guru Nayak bet with the astrologer?
(a) One rupee
(b) Ten rupees
(c) A hundred rupees
(d) Five annas
72. Guru Nayak challenges the astrologer to:
(a) Predict his death
(b) Identify his name
(c) Tell him about his past and enemy
(d) Describe his village
73. What does the astrologer realize about Guru Nayak?
(a) He is a thief
(b) He is the man he once attacked
(c) He is a police officer
(d) He is his relative
74. Guru Nayak was stabbed and pushed into a –
(a) river
(b) tank
(c) hole
(d) well
75. What is the synonym for 'resplendent' as used in the text?
(a) Dull(b) Bright/Shining
(c) Dirty
(d) Small
76. “You were left for dead.” Who said this?
(a) Guru Nayak
(b) astrologer
(c) Astrologer’s wife
(d) The nut vendor
77. “A knife has passed through you once.” Who said this and to whom?
(a) Guru Nayak to astrologer
(b) Astrologer to Guru Nayak
(c) astrologer to his wife
(d) astrologer’s wife to astrologer
78. Guru Nayak was stabbed in his –
(a) shoulder
(b) abdomen
(c) back
(d) chest
79. What does the astrologer tell Guru Nayak about the attacker?
(a) He is missing
(b) He has moved to Bombay
(c) He is dead
(d) He is in jail
80. What does Guru Nayak want to know?
(a) Whether his attacker is alive
(b) Whether his wife is faithful
(c) Whether he will win a case
(d) Whether he’ll find gold
81. What is Guru Nayak’s reaction knowing his assailant died in a vulgar way?
(a) He disbelieves astrologer
(b) He becomes violent
(c) He is relieved
(d) He runs away
82. What does the astrologer advise Guru Nayak?
(a) To never travel southward
(b) To forget the past
(c) To pray to the gods
(d) To seek revenge elsewhere
83. Why does the astrologer give this advice?
(a) Out of kindness
(b) To protect himself
(c) As a spiritual duty
(d) For more money
84. What payment does the astrologer receive from Guru Nayak?
(a) 1 rupee
(b) 5 rupees
(c) 8 annas
(d) A handful of coins
85. What does the astrologer do immediately after Guru Nayak leaves?
(a) Closes shop and rushes home
(b) Cries
(c) Drinks tea
(d) Looks for more customers
86. When did the astrologer finally return home?
(a) at midnight
(b) nearly at midnight
(c) at dawn
(d) at late evening
87. What does the astrologer do with the earnings?
(a) Hides them
(b) Donates them
(c) Buys sweets
(d) Gives them to his wife
88. The astrologer actually belonged to a family of street –
(a) street vendors
(a) astrologers
(c) farmers
(d) medicine sellers
89. The astrologer left the village –
(a) as he liked city-life
(b) for his profession
(c) after planning for a long time
(d) all of a sudden
90. Seeing the face of the stranger, the astrologer felt very much –
(a) delighted
(b) angry
(c) uncomfortable
(d) afraid
91. What "colour scheme" did the astrologer use to attract people?
(a) A deep blue robe
(b) A saffron-coloured turban
(c) A white dhoti with a red border
(d) A black cloak with silver stars
92. The stranger threatened the astrologer that he would –
(a) beat him
(b) take him to the police
(c) take away all his money
(d) kill him
93. Guru Nayak is the name of the –
(a) stranger
(b) astrologer
(c) master of the astrologer
(d) astrologer’s wife
94. Which vendor sat next to the astrologer and created a "din" all day?–
(a) The medicine seller
(b) The fruit vendor
(c) The groundnut vendor
(d) The cloth auctioneer
95. How was the astrologer's workspace lit at night? –
(a) By a municipal street lamp
(b) By a professional gaslight he owned
(c) By a battery-operated torch
(d) By the crackling flare from the nearby groundnut heap
96. When he heard that his assailant was already dead, Guru Nayak –
(a) expressed despair
(b) cried out in anger
(c) felt relieved
(d) thanked the astrologer
97. According to the astrologer, the attacker of Guru Nayak was killed –
(a) four years ago
(b) four months ago
(c) long ago
(d) a few months ago
98. Guru Nayak used to travel from home –
(a) for doing business
(b) to consult astrologers
(c) for meeting with his relatives
(d) to get at his attacker
99. The astrologer is a –
(a) foolish man
(b) simple man
(c) cunning man
(d) sad man
100. “It was a remarkable place in many ways.” Here ‘it’ refers to –
(a) the astrologer’s house
(b) the path running through town hall place
(c) Guru Nayak’s village
(d) the astrologer’s house
101. “He had left his village without any previous thought or plan.” In this fine ‘he’ refers to –
(a) the stranger
(b) the astrologer
(c) one of the astrologer’s client
(d) Guru Nayak
102. “Ah, tell me more.” The speaker here is –
(a) Guru Nayak
(b) the astrologer’s wife
(c) the astrologer
(d) none of these
103. “You know my name!” the other said, taken aback.” The name of the person is –
(a) Guru Nalak
(b) Guru Nayak
(c) Guru Nanak
(d) Guru Nayek
104. “You tried to kill.” Here ‘You’ refers to –
(a) Guru Nayak
(b) Guru Nayak’s friend
(c) the astrologer
(d) the astrologer’s friend
105. “I will prepare some nice staff for her.” The word ‘her’ here refers to the –
(a) astrologer’s wife
(b) astrologer’s mother
(c) astrologer’s daughter
(d) astrologer’s sister
106. “He died four months ago in a far-off town.” This was said about –
(a) Guru Nayak
(b) Guru Nayak’s friend
(c) Guru Nayak’s attacker
(d) Guru Nayak’s family member
107. Why did the stranger bare his chest ? –
(a) for the hot weather
(b) for the discomfort from heat
(c) to show his inner garment
(d) to show his scar
108. According to the astrologer, the stranger would meet the man who tried to kill him –
(a) in the next world
(b) in the next town
(c) in a far-off town
(d) in his village
109. What did the astrologer advise the stranger to rub on his forehead ?
(a) Vermilion
(b) sacred ash
(c) sandal paste
(d) sacred earth
110. Who was waiting for the astrologer at the door ?
(a) his mother
(b) his wife
(c) his daughter
(d) none
111. The astrologer tried to kill once –
(a) his brother
(b) his wife
(c) Guru Nayak
(d) all of them
112. After his dinner, the astrologer sat –
(a) on a cot
(b) on the pyol
(c) on a string bed
(d) under the tamarind tree
113. Guru Nayak was searching for –
(a) his lost son
(b) his missing wife
(c) a thief
(d) the astrologer himself
114. The astrologer sensed the man standing before him lo be
(a) a client
(b) a thief
(c) a shadow
(d) a mischief-maker
115. The astrologer assured the stranger that what he would get
(a) ought to be good enough for his money
(b) ought to be something more than his money’s worth
(c) something equal to the value of his time and money
(d) none of the above
116. The pact between the astrologer and the stranger was accepted
(a) then and there
(b) after a hard bargain
(c) within a moment
(d) without argument
117. As the astrologer felt very uncomfortable
(a) he refused to accept the challenge
(b) he attempted to run away from the place
(c) he lit a cheroot
(d) he looked upset
118. When the astrologer made his preparations to bundle up
(a) the stranger demanded his money back
(b) the stranger requested him to go through his palm
(c) the stranger held the astrologer’s wrist and did not allow him to go
(d) the stranger did nothing
119. As the astrologer was forced lo accept the challenge
(a) his throat dried up
(b) he leapt up In joy
(c) he proceeded fearlessly
(d) he began to stammer
120. “After a good deal of haggling the other agreed.”. -Here the word ‘haggling’ means
(a) discussion
(b) prolonged bargaining
(c) ethical consideration
(d) nagging
121. The stranger was pushed into
(a) a pond in the village
(b) a well nearby in the field
(c) a river flowing through the town
(d) a tank in the village
122. The astrologer informed the stranger that the person he had been searching
(a) died four months ago in a far-off town
(b) died four months ago in a nearby town
(c) died four years ago in a far-off town
(d) died four days ago in a far-off town
123. The astrologer said that he knew
(a) only the name of the stranger
(b) only how he was stabbed and rescued
(c) only the person who stabbed Guru Nayak
(d) all about Guru Nayak
124. The astrologer advised Guru Nayak
(a) to take the next bus and be gone
(b) take the next train and be gone
(c) to stay in his house for the night
(d) not to travel at night
125. The astrologer predicted a great danger to Guru Nayak’s life
(a) if he would go from home
(b) if he would stay in the town
(c) if he would travel by train
(d) if he would travel by bus
126. The astrologer informed Guru Nayak that the person who had stabbed him? / How, according to the astrologer, did Guru Nayak’s assailant die ?
(a) was crushed under a lorry
(b) died of cholera
(c) was crushed under a train
(d) committed suicide
127. What is the antonym of 'impetuous'?
(a) Careful/Cautious(b) Fast
(c) Angry
(d) Brave
128. The astrologer –
(a) was childless
(b) had a daughter
(c) had a son
(d) had many children
129. With ‘twelve and a half annas’ the astrologer’s wife decided to buy –
(a) jaggery and coconut
(b) the daughter’s dress
(c) her saree
(d) some sweets
130. The astrologer’s wife counted the money and found that it was –
(a) eight annas
(b) twelve annas
(c) twelve and a half annas
(d) more than a rupee
131. Hearing about the amount of money given by Guru Nayak, the astrologer was –
(a) angry
(b) happy
(c) overjoyed
(d) surprised
132. Counting the coins amounting twelve and a half annas
(a) the astrologer’s wife was surprised
(b) the astrologer’s wife was unhappy
(c) the astrologer’s wife was overjoyed
(d) the astrologer’s wife was not a bit excited
133. The astrologer’s income excited his wife
(a) to buy some jaggery and coconut tomorrow
(b) to buy some bangles and ribbon the next day
(c) to buy some grocery items the next day
(d) to buy some vegetables the next day
134. The child has been asking for
(a) sweets
(b) toys
(c) school dress
(d) a smartphone
135. “The swine has cheated me”—Who says this?
(a) The astrologer’s wife
(b) The astrologer
(c) The astrologer’s daughter
(d) Guru Nayak
136. What was the "signal" for the astrologer to pack up his things?
(a) The town clock striking midnight
(b) The groundnut vendor blowing out his flare
(c) The arrival of the police
(d) The street lights turning off
137. Seeing Guru Nayak alive, the astrologer came to the conclusion that
(a) he is a murderer
(b) he is no longer a murderer
(c) he will be jailed for his attempt to murder Guru Nayak
(d) he is still in danger as Guru Nayak is not dead
138. The client in ‘An Astrologer’s Day’ actually wanted
(a) to avenge himself
(b) to free himself from the charge of murder
(c) to find out his old friend
(d) to get back his lost property
139. The astrologer was reluctant to advise the client because
(a) he recognized his client
(b) his client forced him to advise
(c) his client’s behaviour was rude
(d) he was very much tired
140. That the astrologer accidentally meets the same person he Is trying to escape is
(a) an example of irony of words
(b) an example of irony of fate
(c) an example of verbal irony
(d) none of these
141. What the astrologer discloses about the name of client and his past is
(a) true
(b) false
(c) partly true
(d) false partly
142. The astrologer’s wife demanded an explanation because
(a) the astrologer looked tired
(b) the astrologer returned home rather early
(c) the astrologer was late in returning home
(d) the astrologer reached home without his bag
143. What shocking truth is revealed about the astrologer’s past?
(a) He was once a police officer
(b) He had tried to kill a man
(c) He was a real astrologer once
(d) He was a fugitive
144. Who was the man the astrologer once attacked?
(a) A childhood friend
(b) His own cousin
(c) Guru Nayak
(d) A police constable
145. What did the astrologer believe had happened to Guru Nayak?
(a) He had escaped
(b) He had died
(c) He had been imprisoned
(d) He had moved abroad
146. Why did the astrologer run away from his village?
(a) He hated farming
(b) He had debts
(c) He feared arrest for attempted murder
(d) He was heartbroken
147. How does the astrologer feel after realizing Guru Nayak is alive?
(a) Guilty
(b) Relieved
(c) Shocked
(d) Fearful
148. Why is the astrologer relieved?
(a) He knows he’s safe from being found out
(b) He is proud of his prediction
(c) He gets more money
(d) He can return to his village
149. What irony does the title “An Astrologer’s Day” reflect?
(a) He is not really an astrologer
(b) He meets someone from his past
(c) He earns more money than usual
(d) He is caught by police
150. What makes this day different from all others in the astrologer’s life?
(a) He is questioned by a client
(b) He comes face to face with his past
(c) He performs a real prediction
(d) He earns the most money
151. What does the astrologer confess to his wife?
(a) That he is a fraud
(b) That he once attacked a man who turned up that day
(c) That he wants to go home
(d) That he met an old friend
152. What does the story suggest about fate?
(a) It can be controlled
(b) It always catches up
(c) It’s unpredictable and ironic
(d) It’s predetermined
153. The surprise meeting shows that:
(a) One cannot escape the past
(b) Truth always comes out
(c) All astrologers are frauds
(d) Villains win in life
154. The story ends with:
(a) The astrologer arrested
(b) A confession and inner peace
(c) A warning to Guru Nayak
(d) The astrologer quitting his job
155. What items made up the astrologer’s "professional equipment"?
(a) A crystal ball and a deck of cards(b) Incense sticks and a brass bell
(c) A telescope and a map of the stars
(d) Cowrie shells, a square cloth with charts, and palmyra writing
156. How did the astrologer’s "simple clients" interpret the sharp gleam in his eyes?
(a) As a sign of madness
(b) As a sign of greed
(c) As a prophetic light
(d) As a lack of sleep
157. To what does the author compare the way people were attracted to the astrologer?
(a) Ants to sugar
(b) Bees to cosmos or dahlia stalks
(c) Moths to a flame
(d) Travelers to an oasis
158. Where did the astrologer sit to conduct his business?
(a) Under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree
(b) Inside a small temple
(c) At the main gate of the Town Hall
(d) In a rented shop with gaslights
159. What fancy names did the groundnut vendor give his ware?
(a) Bombay Ice-cream, Delhi Almond, and Raja’s Delicacy
(b) Royal Cashews and Palace Peas
(c) Sweet Nectar and Crunchy Gold
(d) Himalayan Walnuts and Southern Treats
160. What was the astrologer’s true knowledge of the stars?
(a) He was a master of Vedic astronomy.
(b) He was as much a stranger to the stars as his customers.
(c) He had studied astrology in a famous city.
(d) He could predict the exact movement of Saturn.
161. What would the astrologer have done if he had stayed in his village?
(a) Become a priest
(b) Opened a small grocery shop
(c) Tilled the land and carried on his forefathers' work
(d) Become a school teacher
(a) Parapharnalia
(b) Paraphernalia
(c) Parephernalia
(d) Paraphenalia
(a) He spoke first to impress the client.
(b) He spoke only after receiving a rupee.
(c) He only spoke in whispers.
(d) He never spoke until the client had spoken for at least ten minutes.
(a) Quietness
(b) Loudness/Noisiness
(c) Sweetness
(d) Speed
(a) Health and education
(b) Marriage, money, and the tangles of human ties
(c) Weather and crop yields
(d) Political events and war
(a) Because everyone likes to think they have a forbidding exterior.
(b) Because it made them feel handsome.
(c) Because it proved he was a real psychic.
(d) Because it made them feel safe.
(a) A red neon light
(b) A little shaft of green light
(c) A bright yellow beam
(d) A blue spark
(a) He started crying.
(b) He walked away immediately.
(c) He gave him a gold coin.
(d) He told him to stop and say something worthwhile.
(a) If the astrologer was wrong, he would give the stranger five rupees.
(b) They would have a wrestling match.
(c) If the stranger proved the astrologer was bluffing, the astrologer must pay interest.
(d) The astrologer had to predict the stranger's death date.
(a) The stranger lit a cheroot with a match.
(b) The moon came out from behind a cloud.
(c) The groundnut vendor relit his flare.
(d) A car's headlights shone on him.
(a) He recognized the stranger's face.
(b) He felt sick.
(c) He realized he had no more answers.
(d) He was afraid of the stranger's weapon.
(a) If he would become rich.
(b) If his wife was faithful.
(c) If he would succeed in his present search.
(d) If he should move to a new town.
(a) A broken leg from a fall
(b) A scar from a fire
(c) A bullet wound in the shoulder
(d) A knife wound through the chest
(a) The astrologer
(b) A village doctor
(c) A passer-by who peeped into the well
(d) His brother
(a) Northward
(b) Eastward
(c) Westward
(d) Southward
(a) Because he found his missing money.
(b) Because he heard his enemy met a horrible death.
(c) Because the astrologer gave him a discount.
(d) Because he liked the taste of the sacred ash.
(a) He realized he hadn't actually killed a man.
(b) He finally paid off his debts.
(c) He decided to retire from astrology.
(d) He found his lost village home.
(a) The astrologer is actually a great scientist.
(b) The "murderer" ends up giving "life-saving" advice to his "victim."
(c) Guru Nayak becomes an astrologer too.
(d) The wife is the one who actually killed the man.
(a) Magic spells
(b) Shrewd guesswork
(c) Holy spirits
(d) Ancient books
(a) A type of dessert
(b) A traditional bed
(c) A platform or porch outside a house
(d) A type of lamp
(a) He counted his shells.
(b) He prayed to the stars.
(c) He yawned and stretched on the pyol.
(d) He practiced new charts.
(a) He felt it was a fair price.
(b) He felt cheated because Guru Nayak promised a rupee.
(c) He felt guilty for taking it.
(d) He was surprised it was so much.
(a) Nature’s beauty
(b) The approaching dawn
(c) The astrologer’s magical powers
(d) The moment of revelation and confrontation
(a) Its beautiful flowers
(b) The surging crowd and variety of trades
(c) Its silence and peace
(d) The government meetings held there
(a) Medicine sellers
(b) Magicians
(c) Software engineers
(d) Sellers of stolen hardware
(a) He liked to work in the dark.
(b) It saved him from paying taxes.
(c) It created a bewildering criss-cross of shadows that masked his true identity.
(d) He had very sensitive eyes.
(a) He told him to eat it.
(b) He told him to rub it on his forehead.
(c) He told him to throw it in the river.
(d) He told him to keep it in a box.
(a) A type of pipe
(b) A cigar
(c) A hand-rolled cigarette
(d) A piece of candy
(a) He guessed it randomly.
(b) He knew him from their past in the village.
(c) The stranger’s wife told him.
(d) It was written on the stranger’s arm.
(a) Because he lost his money.
(b) Because he missed his home.
(c) Because his enemy escaped his hands
(d) Because the astrologer was late.
(a) Fear
(b) Self-preservation and cleverness
(c) Kindness
(d) Laziness
