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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Ashima's second pregnancy like?
(a) She is sick but doesn't let that slow her down.
(b) She is in serious danger of having a miscarriage.
(c) She has no problems such as when she had Gogol.
(d) She is constantly sick and smells bother her a lot.

2. How does Ashima's family keep in touch with her after Gogol's birth?
(a) They call every evening at six, right after dinner.
(b) They exchange long letters about once a month.
(c) They communicate sporadically.
(d) They write letters, once as many as three a week.

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

4. When does the idea to change his name first occur to Gogol?
(a) When relatives in India tell him it's not an Indian name.
(b) When reading an issue of Readers Digest.
(c) When school officials can't pronounce his given name.
(d) When Sonia tells him people laugh behind his back.

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

6. What happens when the Ganguli family enters the Dum Dum Airport?
(a) They are swallowed by hugs and kisses.
(b) They can't find their luggage.
(c) They are detained by security.
(d) They look for a taxi to carry them to their destination.

7. What concerns Ashima about Sonia as she grows up?
(a) She fears she'll color a streak in her hair.
(b) She fears she'll forget her Indian heritage.
(c) She has no real concerns, she's pleased with her daughter.
(d) She hates the clothes she wears.

8. What time of day was the train wreck?
(a) In the morning, when animals crossed the tracks looking for water.
(b) In the evening, the engineer was blinded by the setting sun.
(c) At two-thirty in the morning, the middle of the night actually.
(d) At noon, it happened when the depot was most crowded.

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

10. What does the man who lends Ashoke the book on the train tell him that he should do?
(a) Travel and see the world.
(b) Meet the mans' family at the end of the trip.
(c) Read widely as that is the same as traveling the world.
(d) Be glad he has family that loves him.

11. What was Ashoke doing the day he almost died?
(a) He was crossing a street just like every other day.
(b) He was reading a book.
(c) He was helping his parents clean the yard.
(d) He was climbing a mountain.

12. What did Gogol do at his birthday party with friends that he'd never done before?
(a) He finally had a frosted cake and ice cream.
(b) He got presents from friends, something his parents had not allowed before.
(c) He had a boy-girl party with dancing.
(d) He said no to a frosted cake and ice cream.

13. What does Ashima try to make for a midnight snack?
(a) Pickles, because she's pregnant
(b) Rice Krispies bars
(c) A concoction sold for pennies in Calcutta
(d) Ice cream

14. What's the first thing that causes Ashima and Ashoke to suspect she's pregnant?
(a) She throws up after breakfast.
(b) She accuses Ashoke of substituting salt for sugar.
(c) She faints.
(d) She gains weight quickly, which makes them suspect pregnancy.

15. What memory of the train wreck still haunts Ashima, even after his marriage and starting a new life in America?
(a) The still sky above such a terrible scene.
(b) The cries of the people trapped inside.
(c) The twisted, battered, capsized bogies of the train.
(d) The terrible silence after that first, wrenching crash.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Gogol/Nakhid take a class in Indian novels written in English?

2. Why does Gogol's father take him to his first day of kindergarten?

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

4. What about the house becomes one of Gogol's earliest memories?

5. How do Gogol and his friends celebrate his fourteenth birthday party?

(see the answer keys)

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