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. What does Ashima do before Christmas while Ashoke is in Ohio?

2. What does Gogol remember while returning to New York City after his father's death?

3. Was Moushumi's fiance comfortable with her Indian heritage?

4. What kind of wedding do Gogol and Moushumi decide on?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Moushumi reveal about her past that she finds humiliating?

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

5. Do Gogol and Mushumi marry immediately after meeting?

6. What do Gogol and Moushumi decide to do with the money they receive as wedding presents?

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

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

9. What call does Ashima get while working on the Christmas cards?

10. What does Gogol do after graduating from college?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Distance is one major theme in this novel. Explore the author's use of distance in the book, both physical and emotional, and tell how and where it is found and what the author accomplishes by using this theme. Cite examples from the story to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The author uses Gogol's romantic relationships to explore different aspects of his character. Follow the development of Gogol's romantic life throughout the book and examine Gogol's character in each relationship. Cite examples from the book to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Moushumi enters the book somewhat late in the story and doesn't remain to the end, but she is central to the development of Gogol's character. Trace her actions through the story. Why does she act as she does? Are her actions pivotal to the plot or can the story follow the same course to the same conclusion without her character? Why or why not? Support your answer with examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 647 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample