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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why is Ashima embarrassed to wear a hospital gown?
(a) It only comes to her knees.
(b) She hates white.
(c) It's ugly.
(d) The back is open.

2. How many people come to Sonia's rice ceremony when she's six months old?
(a) Practically none because they have few Indian neighbors.
(b) The whole neighborhood, including their American friends.
(c) Just a handful but they are good friends of the family.
(d) So many that the Gangulis rent a building on campus.

3. What makes Ashima's first outing with Gogol take longer than expected?
(a) The pram is old and she's afraid it will break down.
(b) Friendly Americans interested in her baby.
(c) She is still tired and can't walk as quickly as expected.
(d) Gogol cries and she must stop to calm him down.

4. What happens to Ashoke and Ashima within a decade of moving to America?
(a) They seldom know what's going on with their families in India.
(b) They lose touch with their families in India.
(c) They both become orphans.
(d) They become true Americans.

5. What do guests say about Sonia at the rice ceremony?
(a) She doesn't want to know her future.
(b) She'll be important when she grows up.
(c) She'll always live between two cultures.
(d) She is the true American.

6. Why doesn't Ashoke explain how Gogol came about his name when he gives him the book by Nikoli Gogol?
(a) He doesn't like the person his son has become.
(b) He feels Gogol should figure it out on his own.
(c) He doesn't want Gogol to know about the terrible train wreck Ashoke was in.
(d) He sees that Gogol is interested in other things.

7. What was Ashima's initial reaction to her first home in America?
(a) She was delighted with the sunny, spacious rooms.
(b) It was not at all what she had expected.
(c) She didn't like the neighbors.
(d) It was smaller than Ashoke had described.

8. What do Gogol/Nakhil's parents think about his relationship with Ruth?
(a) They disaprove.
(b) They are happy their son is seeing an American girl.
(c) They are undecided.
(d) They don't know about the relationship.

9. How does Ashima feel about their move to the suburbs?
(a) She finds it more distressing than moving from Calcutta to America.
(b) She wishes there were more people from India nearby.
(c) She dislikes the house her husband insisted they rent.
(d) She is relieved to finally have a decent yard.

10. What does Ashima do with most of the gifts Gogol gets at his second birthday party?
(a) She finds places for them in Gogol's crowded room.
(b) She sets them aside for regifting.
(c) The stores them in their original boxes for future use.
(d) She returns those that are duplicates for gift certificates.

11. What does the judge ask Gogol when he goes to court to change his name?
(a) Whether his family agrees.
(b) What problems his name has caused him.
(c) What is the reason for wishing to change his name.
(d) Whether he is a felon hiding from the law.

12. Why does Gogol's father take him to his first day of kindergarten?
(a) It's a tradition in India for a father to do this.
(b) Ashima is overcome by tears and can't bring him herself.
(c) Gogol asks his father to bring him.
(d) Ashima gets sick riding in a car so Ashoke must take him.

13. As a young boy, how does Gogol feel about his name?
(a) He wishes it was more American.
(b) He doesn't like it because he believes it marks him as different.
(c) He doesn't mind his name.
(d) He hates being Gogol Ganjuli.

14. What does Ashima tell Ashoke as soon as they bring their baby home?
(a) She rebukes him for not having done the dishes.
(b) She tells him they are starting on a new journey in life.
(c) She says she can't do this.
(d) She says nothing; she is tired and needs her sleep.

15. What kind of home does Gogol live in as an infant?
(a) A two-story Georgian home the Ganguli family purchased.
(b) An apartment in the slums, surrounded by noisy neighbors.
(c) A fully furnished apartment near Harvard and MIT.
(d) A sunny, comfortable home shared by three immigrant families.

Short Answer Questions

1. How do Gogol's parents explain his lack of an alternative identity to friends in India?

2. Why does Gogol tell the judge he's changing his name?

3. After the train wreck, what did Ashoke do which he believes saved his life?

4. What two kinds of names do children in India usually receive?

5. What did Ashima do upon first meeting Ashoke when he visited her family home in India?

(see the answer keys)

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