View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How do Ashoke and Ashima give in to American customs?
(a) They wear American clothes even in their own home.
(b) They buy season tickets to sporting events.
(c) They cease celebrating Indian holidays.
(d) They let Sonia and Gogol choose American food at the supermarket.

2. What difference does Ashima notice in her days before and after Gogol's birth?
(a) Now she can't seem to organize her days.
(b) Now friends stop by at all hours to see Gogol.
(c) Now she has something to occupy her time.
(d) Now she isn't the center of attention when Ashoke is home.

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

4. In what type of neighborhood do the Gangulis finally purchase a home?
(a) In an historic area where they will be steeped in tradition.
(b) An ordinary area where plastic wading pools are left out on the lawns.
(c) In the country, where there are no neighbors to look down on them.
(d) Where Ashoke can get to work quickly.

5. How does Gogol go about changing his school documents that were completed using the name Gogol?
(a) Only when necessary because paperwork doesn't match.
(b) In stealth, not letting his classmates know about it.
(c) He almost boasts to everyone about his name change.
(d) Methodically, one paper at a time but in no hurry.

6. How do Gogol's parents explain his lack of an alternative identity to friends in India?
(a) They say alternative identities are not used in America.
(b) They say they forgot such things after living in America.
(c) They tell people he would only respond to Gogol.
(d) They say the law about names in America makes such identities difficult if not impossible.

7. What do Gogol's parents think of his wanting to change his name?
(a) They see it as an insult to his heritage and his family.
(b) They think it might improve his chances for a good job.
(c) They can't imagine why he'd want to do such a thing.
(d) They think it's too complicated and he's too old.

8. What kind of name does Ashoke consider Gogol to be when he chooses it for his son?
(a) A name that will look good on an American letterhead.
(b) A name his child should be proud to carry.
(c) A pet name.
(d) He's too confused to think about names and chooses the first one that comes to mind.

9. What does Ashoke do that reminds Ashima of the time he visited her parents' home?
(a) He takes his shoes off, as is customary in India.
(b) He goes out of his way to learn American ways and tell her about them.
(c) He tells her how beautiful she is when she dresses up for him.
(d) He polishes his shoes fastidiously.

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

11. How does Ashoke's career advance in Chapter 3?
(a) He is asked to join a government research project.
(b) He is hired as assistant professor of electrical engineering.
(c) He is offered a post in California and accepts.
(d) He is promoted over an American teacher.

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

13. What does Gogol give his mother as a gift when his baby sister is born?
(a) A blanket for the baby.
(b) A bracelet he made at school.
(c) A picture of his family that he drew.
(d) A pretty bow for her hair that his father helped him pick out at the store.

14. What kind of people are Ashima's neighbors in her first home in America?
(a) Families of professors at Harvard.
(b) A mix of peoples from all over the world.
(c) Other immigrants from India.
(d) Out-of-work Americans.

15. As Ashoke waits while Ashima gives birth, who does he thank for his survival and this miracle of new life about to begin?
(a) Gogol, the Russian writer who saved his life in the train wreck.
(b) All the people of his family who came before him.
(c) The man who lent him the book that saved his life.
(d) God, he is a very religious man.

Short Answer Questions

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

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

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

4. What is Ashima's second pregnancy like?

5. Why is the principal confused about Gogol's name?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 968 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample