View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Where had Moushumi been at the time of Ashoke's funeral?

2. How does Gogol receive news of his father's death?

3. How does Gogol know that his mother is nervous about meeting Maxine?

4. How did Moushumi's engagement end?

5. What does the Ratliff's move to New Hampshire every year remind Gogol of?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Gogol finally learn about his father's death?

3. What does Gogol do after graduating from college?

4. What does Ashima do by herself with her husband in Ohio?

5. Do Gogol and Mushumi marry immediately after meeting?

6. What does Gogol do when he learns of his father's death?

7. What do Moushumi and Dimitri do when they meet?

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

9. What happens when Gogol takes Maxine to meet his family?

10. How does Gogol plan to present Moushumi with the tickets?

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

How is the marriage of Ashim and Ashoke Ganguli different from most American marriages? Cite examples to support your answer. Discuss some advantages or disadvantages of each kind of marriage as described in the novel.

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 609 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample