Gogol

Who is Maxine?

• Gogol's roommate

• Gogol's friend

• Gogol's girlfriend

Which memory does Gogol look back upon?

• When his family went to Disneyland

• His family trip to Cape Cod

• When his family went to India

Who does Gogol end up marrying?

• Ruth

• Moushumi

• Maxine

What is the author’s likely purpose for including paragraph 31?

• To characterize Major Kovaloff as a proud man in order to emphasize the magnitude of his anguish at losing his nose.

• To suggest that Major Kovaloff is a kind and friendly gentleman and did not deserve to experience such an unfortunate mishap.

• To demonstrate Major Kovaloff’s loneliness and desire for visitors, which will now only increase due to the isolating nature of his situation.

• To emphasize how beloved Major Kovaloff is in his neighborhood in order to suggest that many will show interest in his plight. To emphasize how beloved Major Kovaloff is in his neighborhood in order to suggest that many will show interest in his plight.

Which quotation foreshadows the ultimate decision to allow the boy to use the name “Gogol” at school instead of Nikhil”?

• Gogol looks down at his sneakers. The way the principal pronounces his new name is different from the way his parents say it, the second part of it longer, sounding like “heel.”

• He thanks Mrs. Lapidus. “Be good, Nikhil,” he says in English. And then, after a moment’s hesitation, he is gone.

• She bends down so that her face is level with his, and extends a hand to his shoulder. “Can you tell me how old you are, Nikhil?”

• Though Mrs. Lapidus does not understand a word, she listens carefully, hears that name again. Gogol. Lightly, in pencil, she writes it down on the registration form.

Answer explanation

Breakdown: What is the question asking?

Which quotation foreshadows the ultimate decision to allow the boy to use the name “Gogol” at school instead of Nikhil”? = Which quote hints at the idea that Gogol will KEEP BEING CALLED GOGOL instead of going by "Nikhil"?

HINT: The quote should show the boy being more comfortable with the name "Gogol" OR someone calling him by/wanting to call him by "Gogol"

How does the author’s use of language in paragraph 36 emphasize a theme in the excerpt? Select TWO correct answers.

• By showing why Mrs. Lapidus wants Gogol to pick a new name

• By suggesting that Gogol will adapt to kindergarten.

• By specifying the importance of a classroom environment.

• By exaggerating the power of nicknames in school.

• By contrasting the schooling experiences of Gogol and his parents

Answer explanation

By showing why Mrs. Lapidus wants Gogol to pick a new name. (Her reasoning comes from earlier in the excerpt.)

By suggesting that Gogol will adapt to kindergarten. (Shows him getting used to American schooling on his first day.)

By specifying the importance of a classroom environment. (The environment is shown but not depicted as the most important thing.)

By exaggerating the power of nicknames in school. (It shows that there are a lot of nicknames, not that they are especially powerful.)

By contrasting the schooling experiences of Gogol and his parents. (Shows the difference between Gogol's school reality and the expectation the parents had based on their own experiences.)

The description of the setting in the last paragraph of the story suggests that Gogol will —

• Become comfortable with the routines of kindergarten

• Have trouble fitting in with his new classmates.

• Continue to feel anxious when he speaks to Mrs. Lapidus

• Change his mind about which name he prefers.

Answer explanation

HINT:

The setting being established is the classroom. It talks about how the classroom operates and the norms among the students.

What is the significance of the name 'Gogol' in the novel 'The Namesake'?

• It is the protagonist's first name.

• It is the protagonist's last name.

• It is the protagonist's nickname.

• It is the protagonist's middle name.

Which author wrote the short story 'The Nose', which features a character named Major Kovaloff?

• Leo Tolstoy

• Fyodor Dostoevsky

• Nikolai Gogol

• Anton Chekhov

In 'The Namesake', why does Gogol Ganguli decide to change his name?

• He wants to honor his grandfather.

• He dislikes the uniqueness of his name.

• He wants to fit in with American culture.

• He is embarrassed by the name's origin.