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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 does Ashima do immediately after she gives birth to Gogol?

2. When does the idea to change his name first occur to Gogol?

3. What does Gogol's father give him on his fourteenth birthday?

4. What's the first thing that causes Ashima and Ashoke to suspect she's pregnant?

5. How do Ashoke and Ashima give in to American customs?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Gogol do during the traditional rice ceremony when he is six months old?

2. What job is Ashoke offered after finishing his college studies?

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

4. How does Gogol react to the gifts he receives at his fourteenth birthday party?

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

6. Why is Ashima afraid while in labor?

7. Why aren't Ashoke and Ashima concerned that they don't have a name picked out before the birth of their child?

8. At college after changing his name, how does Gogol react to being called by his new name?

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

10. What is Ashima doing when her water breaks?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gogol and Moushumi ended up divorcing. Tell why this happened and then follow the problems in the marriage that were there from the beginning. Be sure to include those problems that were directly related to the fact that they were both second-generation Indian immigrants. Do you think the author succeeded in separating the problems that were unique to immigrants from those that can be found in any marriage in America today? Why or why not? Cite examples to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The author chooses to use a common third-person voice for the narrative, but tells the story as if in the present. This is not common in literature. Tell whether you think this works well for this story. Tell why or why not and support you case by citing examples from the book that you feel are best told this way or that would be better told differently.

Essay Topic 3

The author uses the character of Gogol's sister Sonia as a counterpoint to Gogol's character. Follow the development of her character throughout the book and show how her character differed from Gogol's and what the author accomplished through Sonia's character. Cite examples from the book to support your answer.

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This section contains 683 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample