Iqbal Vocab in Context

Hussain Khan refers to several of the children as “numskulls”. What does this suggest about how he views them? 

• 1. He thinks they are great workers.

• 1. He views them as slow and foolish children.

• He is excited for the money they will make for him.

• He views them as skillful in carpet making.

Read the follwoing sentence:

"Our master was worried that the carpets we were making wouldn't be beautiful or perfect enough to satisfy these illustrious customers."

What is the meaning of the word illustrious as it is used in the sentence above?

• Irrelevant

• Impressive

• Famous

• Unknown

What does the word "inevitable" mean as it is used in the following sentence?

"As the storm clouds gathered on the horizon, the students realized that a rain-soaked outdoor field trip was inevitable, and they prepared themselves for a wet and adventurous day ahead."

• Unavoidable

• Uncertain

• Temporary

• Avoidable

In chapter 5, Fatima and Salman planned a clandestine adventure in order to take food as water to Iqbal while he was in the tomb. Which of the following is a synonym for "clandestine".

• Open

• Loud

• Secret

• Dull

"All around we could see the cultivated fields and the other peasants, starting the day in the same way."

What does the word cultivated mean in the sentence above?

• Land that is used for grazing animals

• Land that is left in its natural state

• Land that is covered with forests

• Land that is prepared and used for growing crops

Read the sentence from Chapter 7.

"During the interminable afternoon hours our attention was easily distracted." What does the word "interminable" suggest about the days spent in the carpet factory?

• The days go quickly

• The days seem endless to the children

• The days are exciting

• The days are filled with laughter and love.

"Look," Hussain Khan said, "this is your debt. Every line is a rupee. I'll give you a rupee for every day you work."

What is the meaning of the word rupee as it is used in the sentence above?

• A line

• A slate

• The amount of work done

• Currency used in India

When Iqbal arrived at the carpet factory, he was chained to his loom with a shackle. What is the primary use of a shackle?

• To decorate a room

• To measure the depth of water

• To unlock a secret compartment

• To fasten someones wrists or ankles together

Read the sentence from Chapter 8.

"Before Iqbal's arrival I had been resigned to my life. I couldn't even imagine a different one."

What does the the word "resigned" suggest about how Fatima viewed her life before Iqbal?

• Fatima was happy about her situation

• Fatima tried to escape before Iqbal arrived

• Fatima accepted her life before Iqbal because she could not change it

• Fatima actively fought to fix her situation before Iqbal arrived

Read the following sentence from the beginning of the novel.

"Usually they were the new workers, just arrived, who hadn't learned that the only way we could become free was to work very hard and very fast, to erase each and every line on our small slates, until there were none left and we could return home."

For what purpose is a slate used in the novel?

• A tool for weaving

• A type of currency

• A device for measuring time

• A way to keep track of the debt