View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What do Triton, Mr. Salgado, and others in the neighborhood hear coming from house number eight?

2. When the narrator and cashier meet, what is happening in Sri Lanka?

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

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

5. After escaping from Joseph, where does Triton go to wait?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. When the cashier asks the narrator if he lives close by, what does the man reply?

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

4. Who is the narrator of the story?

5. Why does the gas station cashier want the narrator to speak with his boss?

6. Where does this story begin?

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

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

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

10. In the opening scene, what kind of trouble does the cashier experience?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the simplicity of Triton's life as a servant with the deep wisdom he exudes in his narration and philosophical musings. In what ways does Triton exhibit greater wisdom and maturity than the supposedly more important people he's talking about?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 687 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample