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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Does the cashier understand the suggestions the narrator gives him in a Sri Lankan language?

2. How long has the narrator been out of Sri Lanka?

3. What vehicle does the narrator own when the story opens?

4. Meticulous when it comes to creating lists, what does the narrator log after servicing his car?

5. When it starts to rain, Triton hopes that Joseph ____.

Short Essay Questions

1. At the start of the story, how does the narrator try to help the cashier?

2. Describe the relationship between Triton and Mr. Salgado.

3. Why does Triton often seek refuge in Lucy-amma's kitchen?

4. What happens in 1962, when Triton's narration begins?

5. When he is a boy, why does Triton regard Mr. Salgado's house as the "center of the universe"?

6. What does the London cashier say about the situation back home in Sri Lanka?

7. At the end of the first section, what does the narrator begin to talk about with the gas station cashier?

8. When Mr. Salgado leaves for a weekend trip to his cousin's tea estate, what additional responsibilities does he give Triton?

9. Through which character does the author choose to reveal the changing sociopolitical landscape of Sri Lanka across many decades?

10. Describe the Volkswagen introduced in the first part of the book.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Triton's earlier years in Sri Lanka and his later years in England.

1. How does he recreate some of his Sri Lankan existence in England?

2. How does he free himself from the ghosts of his past?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and determine the importance to the story of the following recurring points:

1. The making of lists.

2. The changing reefs.

3. The dreams of opening up new establishments.

Essay Topic 3

How does the author use a story told by a former servant boy as a tool to educate readers about the nation of Sri Lanka, including its culture, people, geographical attributes, and recent social and political unrest? Do you feel this is an effective tool? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 807 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample