Podcast
Questions and Answers
Why did Google's parents choose the name 'Nikhil' for him before starting school?
Why did Google's parents choose the name 'Nikhil' for him before starting school?
- Because it resembled the Russian name 'Nicolai' and was a respectable Bengali name. (correct)
- Because it was the name of a famous Russian author.
- Because Mrs. Lapidus suggested it during the registration process.
- Because 'Google' was already taken by another student in the school.
What does the process of changing Google's name to Nikhil before school primarily represent?
What does the process of changing Google's name to Nikhil before school primarily represent?
- An effort to completely erase their cultural heritage.
- A compromise between preserving their cultural identity and assimilating into a new society. (correct)
- An attempt to give their child a name that is easier for Americans to spell and pronounce.
- The parents' desire to fit seamlessly into American culture, abandoning their roots.
Mrs. Lapidus mentions two other Indian children at the school. What does this detail suggest about the school's demographics?
Mrs. Lapidus mentions two other Indian children at the school. What does this detail suggest about the school's demographics?
- The school is exclusively for Indian immigrant children.
- The school is located in a predominantly Indian neighborhood.
- The school has a diverse student body with representation from different cultural backgrounds. (correct)
- The school is actively trying to recruit more Indian students.
What is the significance of Ashok providing Google's/Nikhil's birth certificate and immunization report during registration?
What is the significance of Ashok providing Google's/Nikhil's birth certificate and immunization report during registration?
What can be inferred from Mrs. Lapidus's assurance that missing the first week of kindergarten is not a problem?
What can be inferred from Mrs. Lapidus's assurance that missing the first week of kindergarten is not a problem?
Why might Ashok and Ashima be particularly concerned about choosing a 'good name' for their child before he starts school in America?
Why might Ashok and Ashima be particularly concerned about choosing a 'good name' for their child before he starts school in America?
Considering Mrs. Lapidus's description (tall, slender, white-blonde hair, frosted blue eyeshadow, lemon yellow suit), what does this contribute to the narrative?
Considering Mrs. Lapidus's description (tall, slender, white-blonde hair, frosted blue eyeshadow, lemon yellow suit), what does this contribute to the narrative?
Ashok's thought process of connecting 'Nikhil' to 'Nicolai' in the library reveals what about his character?
Ashok's thought process of connecting 'Nikhil' to 'Nicolai' in the library reveals what about his character?
What might be the underlying reason Ashok tells Mrs. Lapidus that they do not know the other Indian children at the school?
What might be the underlying reason Ashok tells Mrs. Lapidus that they do not know the other Indian children at the school?
Considering the context, what is the most likely reason Google's parents never wanted him to go to kindergarten?
Considering the context, what is the most likely reason Google's parents never wanted him to go to kindergarten?
Flashcards
Nikhil
Nikhil
The new name chosen for Gogol, connected to his original name and meaning 'he who is entire, encompassing all'.
Mrs. McNab
Mrs. McNab
Secretary at the school who greets Ashok and handles Gogol's registration.
Mrs. Lippy Dias
Mrs. Lippy Dias
Gogol's kindergarten teacher, assures Ashok that missing the first week is not a problem.
Study Notes
- Google will be called Nikhil at school, a name his parents chose for him just in time for his formal education.
- Nikhil is a respectable Bengali name meaning "he who is entire, encompassing all."
- The name Nikhil resembles "Nicolai."
- Ashok thought of the name while staring at Google spines in the library.
- Mrs. Lapidus, the secretary, greets Ashok and Google at school.
- Ashok fills out a registration form and provides Google's birth certificate and immunization report.
- Missing the first week of kindergarten isn't a problem since things have yet to settle down.
- Mrs. Lapidus is a tall, slender woman with short white-blonde hair, frosted blue eye shadow, and a lemon-yellow suit.
- There are two other Indian children at the school: Jaidev Modi in the 3rd grade and Rekha Saxena in the 5th.
- Ashok does not know them.
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