Introduction to Contemporary Literature of the Twenty-First Century Answers

Read the excerpt from The Namesake.In order to prove that Gogol knows English, Ashoke does something he has never done before, and addresses his son in careful, accented English. “Go on, Gogol,” he says, patting him on the head. “Tell Mrs. Lapidus how old you are.”Based on the excerpt, which statement best says how Lahiri explores the cultural conflict experienced by immigrant families?

Read the excerpt from The Namesake.“That you want us to call him Nikhil.”“That is correct.”Mrs. Lapidus nods. “The reason being?”“That is our wish.”“I’m not sure I follow you, Mr. Ganguli. Do you mean that Nikhil is a middle name? Or a nickname? Many of the children go by nicknames here. On this form there is a space—”“No, no, it’s not a middle name,” Ashoke says. He is beginning to lose patience. “He has no middle name. No nickname. The boy’s good name, his school name, is Nikhil.”Mrs. Lapidus presses her lips together and smiles. “But clearly he doesn’t respond.” “Please, Mrs. Lapidus,” Ashoke says. “It is very common for a child to be confused at first. Please give it some time. I assure you he will grow accustomed.” Which best states the conflict revealed by this conversation?

Which statement best summarizes a central idea in The Namesake?

Read the excerpt from The Namesake.Ashoke hands over the lunch box, a windbreaker in case it gets cold. He thanks Mrs. Lapidus. “Be good, Nikhil,” he says in English. And then after a moment’s hesitation, he is gone.When they are alone, Mrs. Lapidus asks, “Are you happy to be entering elementary school, Gogol?”“My parents want me to have another name in school.”“And what about you, Gogol? Do you want to be called by another name?”After a pause, he shakes his head.“Is that a no?”He nods. “Yes.”“Then it’s settled. Can you write your name on this piece of paper?”Which best describes the conflict revealed by the conversation in this excerpt?

Read the excerpts from The Namesake.Excerpt 1: But Gogol doesn’t want a new name. He can’t understand why he has to answer to anything else. “Why do I have to have a new name?” he asks his parents, tears springing to his eyes. It would be one thing if his parents were to call him Nikhil, too. But they tell him that the new name will be used only by the teachers and children at school. Excerpt 2: Mrs. Lapidus studies the registration form. She has not had to go through this confusion with the other two Indian children. She opens up the folder and examines the immunization record, the birth certificate. “There seems to be some confusion, Mr. Ganguli,” she says. “According to these documents, your son’s legal name is Gogol.”Which statement best tells how the main conflict in the first excerpt is different from the main conflict in the second excerpt?

Read the excerpts from The Namesake.Excerpt 1: He is afraid to be Nikhil, someone he doesn’t know. Who doesn’t know him. His parents tell him that they each have two names, too, as do all their Bengali friends in America, and all their relatives in Calcutta. It’s a part of growing up, they tell him, part of being a Bengali. Excerpt 2: It is nothing like the schooling Gogol’s parents have known, fountain pens and polished black shoes and notebooks and good names and sir or madam at a tender age. Here the only official ritual is pledging allegiance first thing in the morning to the American flag. Which statement best tells how the main conflict in the first excerpt is different from the main conflict in the second excerpt?

Read the excerpt from The Namesake.“That you want us to call him Nikhil.”“That is correct.”Mrs. Lapidus nods. “The reason being?”“That is our wish.”“I’m not sure I follow you, Mr. Ganguli. Do you mean that Nikhil is a middle name? Or a nickname? Many of the children go by nicknames here. On this form there is a space—”“No, no, it’s not a middle name,” Ashoke says. He is beginning to lose patience. “He has no middle name. No nickname. The boy’s good name, his school name, is Nikhil.”Mrs. Lapidus presses her lips together and smiles. “But clearly he doesn’t respond.” “Please, Mrs. Lapidus,” Ashoke says. “It is very common for a child to be confused at first. Please give it some time. I assure you he will grow accustomed.” What central idea of the passage is established in this excerpt?

Read the excerpt from The Namesake.In order to prove that Gogol knows English, Ashoke does something he has never done before, and addresses his son in careful, accented English. “Go on, Gogol,” he says, patting him on the head. “Tell Mrs. Lapidus how old you are.”Which statement best describes the conflict revealed in this excerpt?

Read the excerpt from The Namesake.Ashoke hands over the lunch box, a windbreaker in case it gets cold. He thanks Mrs. Lapidus. “Be good, Nikhil,” he says in English. And then after a moment’s hesitation, he is gone.When they are alone, Mrs. Lapidus asks, “Are you happy to be entering elementary school, Gogol?”“My parents want me to have another name in school.”“And what about you, Gogol? Do you want to be called by another name?”After a pause, he shakes his head.“Is that a no?”He nods. “Yes.”“Then it’s settled. Can you write your name on this piece of paper?”Which statement best says how Lahiri explores the cultural conflicts experienced by immigrant children?

Read the excerpts from The Namesake.Excerpt 1: But Gogol doesn’t want a new name. He can’t understand why he has to answer to anything else. “Why do I have to have a new name?” he asks his parents, tears springing to his eyes. It would be one thing if his parents were to call him Nikhil, too. But they tell him that the new name will be used only by the teachers and children at school. Excerpt 2: Mrs. Lapidus studies the registration form. She has not had to go through this confusion with the other two Indian children. She opens up the folder and examines the immunization record, the birth certificate. “There seems to be some confusion, Mr. Ganguli,” she says. “According to these documents, your son’s legal name is Gogol.”Which statement best tells how the conflict in the first excerpt is similar to the conflict in the second excerpt?