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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. Once inside the office, what does the narrator ask the cashier?

2. As the narrator begins to speak about his former life in Sri Lanka, he talks about a ______.

3. Who stumbles towards the narrator and the cashier as the two are engrossed in conversation?

4. Who is Lucy-amma?

5. When Triton finds himself alone with Joseph at Mr. Salgado's house, what is he afraid of?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What happens when Mr. Salgado returns home from his trip to the tea estate?

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

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

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

8. Who is the narrator of the story?

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

10. In "Part 1, Kolla", why is Triton left alone in Mr. Salgado's house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the relationship between Miss Nili and Triton. How does she try to help him? How does Triton respond? Does he have a secret crush on her? Why or why not? How do his thoughts about her evolve as he grows?

Essay Topic 3

Although he starts out without any cooking skills, Triton evolves into an accomplished chef. Analyze how this culinary evolution mirrors Triton's personal transformation with respect to his self-esteem, confidence, and self-perception.

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