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

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the one complication about Gogol/Nikhil's new name?

2. Where does Gogol first begin to introduce himself to people as Nikhil?

3. What does the man who lends Ashoke the book on the train tell him that he should do?

4. What does Gogol decide to do a few weeks after moving away from his family and starting college?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Gogol wants to see his girlfriend, Ruth, over the Christmas holidays?

2. Why doesn't Gogol look forward to his fourteenth birthday party?

3. How do Ashima and Ashoke feel about Ruth when they learn of their son's girlfriend?

4. What happens to Gogol and Sonia while the family are sightseeing in India?

5. What does Ashima think about while in labor?

6. What does Ashoke do for Gogol's fourteenth birthday?

7. Why doesn't the school call Gogol by the name Nikhil?

8. What type of home do the Gangulis settle down in to raise their family?

9. How does Gogol feel about his family during visits home from college?

10. What happens when Gogol takes an English class in high school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ashima Ganguli is a pivotal character in the novel. Explore the character of Ashima throughout the book and explain how she evolves. Focus on her independence, her acceptance of the American lifestyle and her support of her childrens' choice of lifestyles. Cite examples from the book to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Ashoke's near-death experience is a theme of the novel. Describe this experience and how it affects his later decisions in life. Tell how those decisions affect the lives of the people close to him. Cite scenes or situations in the novel to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

What significance does the title of this book hold? Why would the book be called this? Why would the book be called this? What does it symbolize within the novel? Please explore the meaning of the title through the character of Gogol.

(see the answer keys)

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