Chapter 8: Robert

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Questions and Answers

What was the primary reason the father opened an integrated restaurant in Johannesburg?

To provide a unique dining experience for tourists

To make a profit from both black and white customers

To cater exclusively to black travelers

To promote unity and challenge apartheid (correct)

Which trait best describes the relationship between the narrator's parents?

Dissimilar yet attracted to each other (correct)

Indifferent and separate

Complementary and harmonious

Conflictual and tumultuous

How did the father view racism, according to the passage?

As completely irrational and nonsensical (correct)

As an inherited trait from previous generations

As a justified reaction to societal issues

As a necessary evil for maintaining order

What was one of the reasons the father’s restaurant gained popularity?

It allowed people to interact across racial divides Signup and view all the answers

What challenge did the father face when running his restaurant?

Legal implications and health code violations Signup and view all the answers

How did the father feel about living in South Africa with respect to its racial dynamics?

He found it to be absurd and counterproductive Signup and view all the answers

What reaction did the restaurant patrons have towards each other?

They enjoyed a shared experience of curiosity and observation Signup and view all the answers

What ultimately led to the closure of the father's restaurant?

Community complaints and government actions Signup and view all the answers

What was the father's attitude towards gifts given to his child?

He took full credit for the gifts Signup and view all the answers

What dish did the child request for their Sunday meals?

Rösti Signup and view all the answers

How did the child describe their father's communication style?

Concisely informative with few details Signup and view all the answers

What major life event led to the child's decreased contact with their father?

The mother's new relationship with Abel Signup and view all the answers

What was the nature of the environment the child faced after moving from Hillbrow?

A decline due to neglect and instability Signup and view all the answers

How did the father view his departure to Cape Town?

As a temporary change Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a reason for the reduced communication between the child and the father?

The father's busy work schedule Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'being with my dad was like watching a web series' imply?

Interactions were infrequent and episodic Signup and view all the answers

What emotions did the narrator experience during the reunion with his father?

Nostalgia and joy Signup and view all the answers

What was the narrator particularly anxious about prior to meeting his father?

Forgetting his father's appearance Signup and view all the answers

What item did the father prepare for the narrator during his visit?

Potato Rösti Signup and view all the answers

What did the father present to the narrator that highlighted his achievements?

A scrapbook of his life Signup and view all the answers

What realization did the narrator have regarding his father's feelings towards him?

His father was proud of him Signup and view all the answers

How did the narrator feel about his father treating him the same way as he did as a child?

Comforted and happy Signup and view all the answers

How long had it been since the last time the narrator had seen his father?

Ten years Signup and view all the answers

What was the location of the father's home that the narrator visited?

Camps Bay Signup and view all the answers

What career is mentioned as having taken off quickly for the narrator?

Radio DJ Signup and view all the answers

What sentiment does the narrator's mother try to instill in him about his father's absence?

His father's absence is due to circumstances beyond his control. Signup and view all the answers

How did the narrator initially begin the search for his father?

Reaching out to his father's old friends. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge did the narrator face when trying to get information from the Swiss embassy?

He had no proof of his father's identity on the birth certificate. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Swiss embassy suggest after the narrator's persistent inquiries?

They would forward his letter if they found a man like he described. Signup and view all the answers

What emotional response does the narrator have when thinking about his father?

He experiences anxiety about being rejected. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the narrator's mother's attitude towards his father?

She spoke highly of him and his qualities. Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion did the narrator draw about his father as he reached adulthood?

His father wanted a relationship but was unable to have one. Signup and view all the answers

What realization did the narrator come to about interviewing their father?

Interviews do not facilitate true relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What did the narrator intend to achieve by spending the weekend with their father?

To get to know him personally. Signup and view all the answers

How did the father respond to the narrator's initial questioning?

He became irritated and felt interrogated. Signup and view all the answers

What activities did the narrator and their father do together during the weekend?

They dined, talked about various topics, and listened to music. Signup and view all the answers

What does Trevor's mother suggest he should do?

Find his father Signup and view all the answers

Why did Trevor never call his father 'Dad'?

He was told not to due to safety concerns Signup and view all the answers

What was the father's final comment to the narrator about their time spent together?

He believed the narrator was learning about him. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes Trevor's father's approach to cleanliness?

He cleans up after himself obsessively Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator identify as missing due to apartheid?

Time to establish relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What does Trevor know about his father's educational background?

He is uncertain if he went to university Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the nature of relationships based on the narrator's experience?

True understanding comes from shared experiences and interaction. Signup and view all the answers

What personal belief did Trevor's father have about marriage?

It often involves control over another person Signup and view all the answers

Why did the narrator feel wanted after meeting their father?

The father chose to reconnect after a long period. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of Trevor's father’s personality does he highlight?

He is neat and self-reliant Signup and view all the answers

Where did Trevor's father work before moving to South Africa?

In the restaurant and food service industry Signup and view all the answers

What does Trevor’s mother imply about men who grow up without their fathers?

They often have an inaccurate perception of fathers Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Trevor Noah's Chapter 8

Noah's mother urged him to find his father, saying it was crucial for self-discovery.
Noah's father's background is largely unknown, with gaps in information regarding his upbringing, education, and reasons for settling in South Africa.
He worked as a chef in Montreal and New York before moving to South Africa.
He worked for an industrial food service company and opened bars/restaurants.
Noah called his father "Robert" due to societal implications of calling him "Dad," "Daddy," or "Father."
He describes his father as Swiss, meticulous, clean, and private.
His father disliked being waited on and preferred his own space.
His father loved traveling and entertaining guests.
His father disliked racism and homogeneity, criticizing the apartheid system for its illogical reasoning.
His father opened an integrated steakhouse in Johannesburg in the 1980s.
This restaurant was successful because it was one of the few upscale places black people could dine and was a place where racial interactions were observed.
Issues arose when neighbours and authorities complained about the business and sought to enforce the segregation rules.
After apartheid ended, his father moved to Yeoville.

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Description

This quiz explores key themes and relationships in the narrative surrounding a father who opened an integrated restaurant in Johannesburg. It examines the motivations behind the restaurant's establishment, the dynamics of the narrator's parents' relationship, and perspectives on racism. Test your understanding of the text's deeper meanings and character interactions.