Mentimeter Quizzes: The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

This blog is prepared to incorporate four quizzes crafted by me on Symbols, Motifs and Thematic study of 'The Ministry of Utmost Happiness' and presented in the classroom on 2nd February 2024.

 In the current digital landscape, where digital platforms are reshaping how knowledge is absorbed, it becomes essential to move beyond traditional teaching methods to enhance engagement. The availability of numerous digital platforms offers opportunities for creating compelling and interactive learning activities. In an effort to make teaching and learning more captivating, Dilip Barad sir incorporates Mentimeter quizzes at the conclusion of each unit. Why Mentimeter?

Mentimeter, a versatile digital tool, surpasses the limitations of traditional quizzes by transforming the learning experience into an interactive dialogue. It fosters collaboration and active participation among students, marking a departure from conventional teaching methods. The quizzes organized by Dilip Barad sir are not only intriguing but also incorporate features like faster finger points and automatically generated leaderboards at the end of each question and quiz.

This approach introduces an enjoyable element to the learning process while offering insights into students' reading comprehension and understanding of the text. The quizzes include a mix of multiple-choice questions and writing questions, often focusing on details such as text names, authors, or characters. This format not only engages students but also aids in reinforcing spelling and recall skills.

This time, I got an opportunity to craft four quizzes focusing on symbols and thematic analysis, with two quizzes each comprising five questions related to 'The Ministry of Utmost Happiness.' The process of preparing these quizzes proved to be quite engaging. Arundhati Roy's novel, "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness," is intricately layered, making it a challenge to derive multiple-choice questions. I sought assistance from ChatGPT, which provided me with intriguing questions. However, it's crucial to emphasize the necessity of thorough verification when working with AI tools.

While interacting with ChatGPT, it consistently generated good questions and multiple-choice options, but the responsibility lay with me to review and rectify if necessary. It's not a process of simply providing a prompt and receiving a set of flawless questions. Some questions generated were too challenging to be included in the quiz, and at times, they didn't align accurately with the text. Nevertheless, the tool proved highly beneficial in refining grammatical errors within the interrogative sentences.

Here are the quizzes with the answers:

Quiz 1: Symbols and Motifs-1:

1. What do the motifs "Duniya" and "Jannat" represent in the novel?

A. Places in Kashmir

B. Questions of Happiness, Life, and Death✅

C. Historical events

D. Characters' names

2. Who does the symbolic representation of 'The Old Man-Baby' in the novel refer to?

A. Narendra Modi

B. Arvind Kejarival

C. Anna Hazare ✅

D.Sanjay Gandhi

3. Why did Hazrat Sarmad Shaheed travel to India in the novel?

A. In Pursuit of his love Abhay Chand✅

B. Due to his exile

C. For Missionary work

D. In Pursuit of Knowledge

4. Who is the biological mother of miss Udaya Jebeen?

A. Tilo

B. Anjum

C. Jahanara Begum

D. Revathy ✅

5. It symbolizes cultural, military imperialism and dangers of extremism.................. .

A. Jantar Mantar

B. Hazrat Sarmad Dargah

C. Shiraz Cinema✅

D. Jannat Guest House

Quiz 2: Symbols and Motifs-2

1. In the novel, what does Gujarat ka Lalla symbolize?

A. Cultural diversity

B. Hindu nationalist threat✅

C. Religious tolerance

D. Political unity

2. What causes the metaphorical death of the vultures?

A. Cow-aspirin consumption

B. Brain relaxant poisoning✅

C. Nuclear torpedoes

D. Intellectual freedom

3. Who, in the novel, adopts the name Saddam Hussain?

A. Dayachand✅

B. Musa

C. Naga

D. Zakir Mian

4. What does Guih Kyom, the dung beetle, symbolize at the end of the novel?

A. Political instability

B. Hope✅

C. Love

D. Hatred

5. What is the primary purpose of the Sound and Light Show in the Red Fort in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness?

A. To entertain the audience with modern technology

B. To criticize the government's narrative of history

C. To present an approved version of India's history(Including Mughals)✅

D. To showcase the architectural beauty of the Red Fort

Quiz 3: Thematic Study-1

1. What symbolic meaning is associated with the Khwabgah in the novel?

A. 'House of Dreams': An imaginary realm for dreamers✅

B. A concrete example of utopia

C. A refuge for the Hijra class

2. What is a central motif in "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness" related to internal division?

A. External conflicts among nations

B. Economic disparities in Indian society

C. Internal struggles within individuals✅

3. In the context of the novel, why does rewriting a story become problematic, as mentioned by Roy?

A. It hinders the creative process of storytelling

B. Irrelevance of stories

C. Erasing historical narratives and perpetuating violence✅

D. Promotion of only one official version

4. How does the novel use its structure to convey stories?

A. Chronological storytelling

B. Fragmented and non-chronological storytelling✅

C. Linear narrative

D. Symbolic representation

5. During the protests at Jantar Mantar, what message is hurled at Kashmiri women?

A. Advocacy for human rights

B. Unity in diversity

C. Muslim Terrorists do not deserve Human Rights✅

D. Promoting peace

Quiz 4: Thematic Study-2

1. In Arundhati Roy's novel 'The Ministry of utmost Happiness' which characters are referred with the theme of boundaries between life and death?

A. Anjum and Tilo

B. Dayachand and Arifa

C. Jahanara Begum and Mulakat Ali

D. Revathy and Mariam Ipe✅

2. In "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness," what criticism does Arundhati Roy level at attempts to modernize, particularly in the context of Western-style?

A. Praise for cultural preservation

B. Emphasis on economic prosperity

C. Destructiveness of Western-style capitalism✅

D. Advocacy for technological advancements

3. Whose gender identity is depicted with ambiguity in the novel?

A. Anjum✅

B. Dayachand

C. Tilo

D. Musa

4. How does Hindu nationalism impact Dalits in the novel?

A. Dalits are elevated to higher social status

B. Dalits are seen as traitors to Hinduism and face discrimination✅

C. Dalits are considered true Hindus and respected.

5. According to Musa, what is considered a "crime" in Kashmir that can be punishable by death?

A. Actively participating in the insurgency.

B. Speaking out against the Indian government.

C. Promoting peace and harmony.

D. Simply living as a Kashmiri✅

I express my gratitude to my group members during the Introductory presentation on 'The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’, who assisted in preparing questions for the thematic study. The experience proved to be truly captivating and enriching.

Thank you sir for providing an opportunity to prepare these quizzes and present in the class.

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