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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Gogol hate about explaining his name to people?
(a) That it's not Indian and is absurd and obscure.
(b) How to pronounce it correctly.
(c) That his parents didn't have a name ready when he was born.
(d) That many people in India have pet names when children.

2. What does Ashima do immediately after she gives birth to Gogol?
(a) She asks the nurse to give her child to her immediately.
(b) She cries from the pain.
(c) She gives thanks for a healthy child.
(d) She begins to shiver profoundly.

3. How does the breakup between Gogol/Nakhil and Ruth happen?
(a) Ruth takes a class in England and that ends the affair.
(b) Ruth's parents don't like her seeing an Indian so she ends it.
(c) Gogol's friends tell him Ruth isn't right for him.
(d) They have a huge fight and Gogol walks out on her.

4. What kind of gifts does Gogol get at his second birthday party?
(a) Baseballs, footballs and soccer balls.
(b) Dictionaries, calculators, sweaters, and pens.
(c) Mementos of India.
(d) Trading cards for his collection.

5. What error in speech does Ashima make when talking with the nurse?
(a) None, English was her best subject in Calcutta.
(b) She uses the wrong word for baby.
(c) She slips into her native tongue without realizing it.
(d) She forgets to use the plural when mentioning toes and fingers.

6. What does Gogol's father say after giving him a special gift for his fourteenth birthday?
(a) Nothing because he sees Gogol has ignored similar gifts.
(b) He hopes Gogol likes it because it was rather expensive.
(c) He hopes Gogol doesn't forget his Indian heritage.
(d) He hopes Gogol uses it wisely.

7. What does Gogol's father give him on his fourteenth birthday?
(a) An expensive leather jacket.
(b) A gift certificate, because he doen't know what Gogol wants.
(c) The baseball bat Gogol truly wanted.
(d) A book of short stories by Nikoli Gogol.

8. What does Gogol do with the book his father gives him for his fourteenth birthday?
(a) He leafs through the book to see what it's about.
(b) He shuts the book and puts it on a shelf, unread.
(c) He sets it aside to read later when he has more time.
(d) He loses it almost immediately.

9. What does the nurse do when Ashoke and Ashima are first together with their child?
(a) She tells them that a child is a fragile thing.
(b) She makes sure their wrist bands match.
(c) She shows them how to change his diapers.
(d) She leaves them alone for a while.

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

11. Why doesn't Gogol want to go to school when he begins Kindergarten?
(a) He is afraid of the strange building.
(b) He has been told he will be called by a different name.
(c) He doesn't want to be the only Indian at the school.
(d) He wants to stay home and play.

12. What two kinds of names do children in India usually receive?
(a) Names to be spoken and names never to be said out loud.
(b) Pet names and good names.
(c) Family names and nicknames.
(d) Formal names and informal names.

13. Who does Gogol meet on a train coming home from school during his freshman year in college?
(a) A fellow student from school, a girl he recognizes.
(b) A stranger who reminds him of his father.
(c) A friend from childhood whom he barely remembers.
(d) A woman who moves because she doesn't like immigrants.

14. How does Gogol/Nakhil feel when people who used to call him Gogol use his new name?
(a) He wishes they'd still call him Gogol, he's used to it.
(b) He wonders how they can keep his names straight.
(c) He is pleased that they understand how important it is to him.
(d) He finds it startling.

15. What do the Gangulis do with their home while they are in India?
(a) The sell it, figuring to buy another, nicer home when they return.
(b) Rent it to an unmarried couple, students at the university.
(c) Turn off the utilities and lock the doors.
(d) Pay a company to check on it every so often.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What difference does Ashima notice in her days before and after Gogol's birth?

3. How many people come to Sonia's rice ceremony when she's six months old?

4. What does Ashoke remember when he and Ashima bring Gogol home?

5. As a young boy, how does Gogol feel about his name?

(see the answer keys)

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