Latin American Magic Realist Voices Answers

Read the excerpt from The Namesake.“Welcome to elementary school, Nikhil. I am your principal, Mrs. Lapidus.”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.”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?”When the question is repeated and there is still no response, Mrs. Lapidus asks, “Mr. Ganguli, does Nikhil follow English?”“Of course he follows,” Ashoke says. “My son is perfectly bilingual.”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 line from this excerpt reflects the central idea that immigrants sometimes face discrimination and prejudice in their new culture?

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?

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 excerpt from The Namesake.And so Gogol’s formal education begins. At the top of sheets of scratchy pale yellow paper he writes out his pet name again and again, and the alphabet in capitals and lowercase. He learns to add and subtract, and to spell his first words. In the front covers of the textbooks from which he is taught to read he leaves his legacy, writing his name in number-two pencil below a series of others. Which central idea of the passage is established 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?

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 excerpt from The Namesake.At the end of his first day he is sent home with a letter to his parents from Mrs. Lapidus, folded and stapled to a string around his neck, explaining that due to their son’s preference he will be known as Gogol at school. What about the parents’ preference? Ashima and Ashoke wonder, shaking their heads. But since neither of them feels comfortable pressing the issue, they have no choice but to give in.Which central idea of the passage is established 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 conflict in the first excerpt is similar to the conflict in the second excerpt?