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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. After recording information about his car, what does the narrator do?
(a) Takes his old battery in for recycling.
(b) Waxes his car.
(c) Goes to pay for the gasoline.
(d) Closes his cans of paint.

2. What is the cashier's immigration status?
(a) Naturalized citizen.
(b) Refugee.
(c) Illegal immigrant.
(d) Dual citizen.

3. How old is Triton when he goes to work for Mr. Salgado?
(a) Twenty.
(b) Eleven.
(c) Seven.
(d) Sixteen.

4. Although Mr. Salgado goes to the best schools in Colombo, he considers himself what?
(a) Self-educated.
(b) A philosopher, not a scientist.
(c) Far more intelligent than his colleagues.
(d) Not smart enough.

5. How does Joseph feel and act towards Triton?
(a) He treats him kindly.
(b) He resents him.
(c) He takes him under his wing.
(d) He largely ignores him.

6. What do the police and neighbors discover at house number eight?
(a) The wife steps on a cluster of poisonous scorpions.
(b) The wife rubs hot chillies all over her husband as punishment for his indiscretions.
(c) The husband is drunk and cranks up the volume of the radio and television.
(d) A visiting classical singer is trying to stay there without being noticed by the neighbors.

7. Where does the cashier invite the narrator to?
(a) The office.
(b) The deli.
(c) The garage.
(d) The coffee shop.

8. How old is Lucy-amma?
(a) Twenty-eight years old.
(b) More than seventy years old.
(c) Twelve years old.
(d) At least a hundred years old.

9. When Triton finds himself alone with Joseph at Mr. Salgado's house, what is he afraid of?
(a) That Joseph throws him into the bay.
(b) That Joseph starves him.
(c) That Joseph's brothers beats him up.
(d) That Joseph forces him to sleep outside, under the bridge.

10. Why does Triton seek refuge in the kitchen?
(a) It reminds him of the times he helps his mother in the kitchen.
(b) Joseph does not go in there when onions are being prepared.
(c) It's the only room in the house with a door that locks.
(d) He has a secret hiding place behind the kitchen pantry.

11. When it starts to rain, Triton hopes that Joseph ____.
(a) Falls into the bay.
(b) Catches pneumonia.
(c) Slips and falls off the bridge.
(d) Crashes his car.

12. Why are Triton and Joseph left alone at Mr. Salgado's house?
(a) Mr. Salgado is on vacation and Lucy-amma is in the hospital.
(b) Mr. Salgado is on a business trip and Lucy-amma is taking care of a dying relative.
(c) Mr. Salgado takes Lucy-amma out for her birthday.
(d) Mr. Salgado and Lucy-amma take separate trips at the same time.

13. With Joseph gone, Triton goes from being houseboy to being ___.
(a) Errand boy.
(b) Gardener.
(c) Housekeeper.
(d) Butler.

14. As Triton waits to meet Mr. Salgado, he:
(a) Plays his guitar.
(b) Chats with a friend.
(c) Paces in the courtyard.
(d) Sits on the floor.

15. After taking care of his car, what does the narrator do at the start of the story?
(a) Drops his wallet.
(b) Records data in a logbook.
(c) Assists another driver.
(d) Buys an ice cream cone.

Short Answer Questions

1. One night, Triton dreams that there is a demon in the house, and in the morning he oversleeps. What does he tell Mr. Salgado that morning?

2. How far away is Sri Lanka from England?

3. The haberdasher who stops by Mr. Salgado's house on Thursdays is one of the what who stops by regularly?

4. At the start of the story, what does the narrator notice about the cashier?

5. At night, what does young Triton dream of?

(see the answer keys)

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