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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. Why doesn't Gogol enjoy the trip to Paris with Moushumi as much as he expected?

2. Who wants to introduce Gogol to a girl he used to know as a child?

3. Why does Ashima make her own Christmas cards?

4. What are Moushumi and Gogol doing when he kisses her in her apartment?

5. What does Gogol sense about Maxine's reaction to the neighborhood where he lives?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to change a friendly evening into an intimate encounter between Mushumi and Gogol?

2. Do Gogol and Mushumi marry immediately after meeting?

3. What happens the day after Gogol meets a girl named Maxine?

4. What kind of wedding do Gogol and Moushumi have?

5. What bothers Gogol when he goes to Paris with Moushumi when she lectures there?

6. What do the Ratliffs do for Gogol in New Hampshire?

7. What does Gogol do for Moushumi's Christmas gift?

8. What does Gogol do after graduating from college?

9. Why doesn't Gogol know immediately of his father's death?

10. After Gogol breaks off his relationship with Maxine, who does his mother introduce him to?

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

The author's descriptive style of writing is simple and straight-forward, helping her win a Pulitzer Prize. She uses it for both the story itself and to describe the settings. Do you believe this style works for both? Does this style work to delve deeply into the character's minds? Tell why you think the way you do. Did she do a better job of describing Indian immigrants or every-day native-born Americans? Tell why or why not. Cite examples from the novel to support your case.

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 630 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample