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

2. What time of day was the train wreck?

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

4. What appearance does the Ganguli home present to a casual observer?

5. What did Gogol do at his birthday party with friends that he'd never done before?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the Ganguli family do during Ashoke's sabbatical?

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

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

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

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

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

7. What did Ashoke swear to do during his long recovery from the injuries he received during a train wreck when he was a young man?

8. What does Gogol decide to do when he turns eighteen?

9. Why doesn't Ashima's grandmother name their grandchild as Ashima and Ashoke requested?

10. Why does Ashoke choose the name Nikhil for Gogol when he begins school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses unexpected events to change the direction of the story. One such event is Ashoke's death, but there are others. Cite at least three other examples of other such events and tell how they change the direction of the plot.

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 709 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample