Reef Quizzes

Reef Quiz 1 (The Breach and Kolla)

1 Why does Triton reach out to the gas station cashier?
The cashier is a customer at Triton's restaurant

He recognizes that the cashier is Sri Lankan

He recognizes the cashier as a former servant of Mister Salgado's

The cashier is Mister Salgado's son
2 What unusual habit does Triton demonstrate while refueling his car?
He leaves a handful of spare change on the counter

He takes a photo of the car

He carefully documents the car's mileage

He spills a few drops of gasoline on the asphalt
3 What privilege marks Triton as different from the cashier?
Triton has lived in London for nearly twenty years, whereas the cashier is a recent immigrant

Triton speaks both Tamil and Sinhala, while the cashier only speaks English

Triton is an atheist, while the cashier is a devout Christian

Triton has his own car, while the cashier doesn't know how to drive
4 Why does the cashier ask Triton to make a phone call?
The cashier wants to distract Triton, who received incorrect change

Triton speaks better English and can explain an issue to the cashier's employer

The cashier wants to call home for news about the war but cannot understand the operator's accent

Triton knows the number for a taxi service to take the cashier to the airport
5 How does Triton react to the drunk man tapping on the window?
He is disgusted by the man's physical appearance

He is embarrassed that he knows the drunk man

He feels compelled to protect the cashier

He feels immediate panic
6 Who is the only character named in "The Breach"?
Mister Salgado

Triton

Mohan

Nili
7 Why is the opening chapter entitled "The Breach"?
Triton's interaction with the cashier prompts him to remember his past

Triton is "into the breach" by helping the cashier

The cashier's request is a breach of etiquette

Speaking Sinhala is a breach of Triton's contract
8 What double meaning does the title "Kolla" carry?
"Kolla" is Triton's nickname for Mister Salgado; the chapter outlines Triton's growing affection for Mister Salgado

"Kolla" is a pejorative for Tamil-speaking Sri Lankans; the chapter explains Triton's prejudices against Joseph's culture

"Kolla" means "onion," which is the first thing Triton learns to cook; the chapter explores the layers of Triton's personality, like an onion

"Kolla" means "boy," which is what the adults in Triton's life call him; the chapter also recounts Triton's boyhood
9 Why does Mister Salgado hire Triton?
He wants to prove he isn't prejudiced against Tamils

He feels sympathy for Triton's situation

He wants Triton to work as a pearl diver

He needs Triton's culinary expertise
10 What experience sparks Triton's love for cooking?
Planning a Christmas dinner after Joseph is fired

Eating Mister Salgado's leftovers

Cutting onions with Lucy-amma

Watching his mother grill rainbow trout
11 Why doesn't Triton receive a formal education?
His parents cannot afford private school

He accidentally burned down the schoolhouse

He cannot speak Sinhala, the official language of education

He does not enjoy school
12 Initially, why does Triton hate Joseph?
Joseph receives all Mister Salgado's attention

Joseph is a Christian

Joseph is cruel and rude to Triton

Joseph assaults Triton
13 How does Triton protect himself against Joseph?
He carries a crucifix, knowing Joseph is a Christian

He carries garlic, mistakenly believing Joseph is a vampire

He carries raw onions, knowing they make Joseph tear up

He carries a knife, thinking he will be able to stab Joseph
14 How does Triton feel when left alone in Mister Salgado's house?
He is excited to try on Mister Salgado's clothes and eat sweets

He is afraid of the dark, but relaxed knowing he is fully alone

He resents Joseph for leaving him alone to do all the housework

He misses Mister Salgado and longs to join him
15 What remains constant in Lucy-amma's life?
Her love for her children

The politics in her hometown

Her resentment over her low caste

Her work as a cook for the Salgado family
16 How does Triton try to get Mister Salgado's attention?
He prepares an elaborate meal to impress Mister Salgado's friends

He claims he chased off a band of thieves

He destroys some of Mister Salgado's books

He spreads rumors that Joseph is an alcoholic
17 How does Triton deal with his fear of Joseph?
He imagines Jospeh's misfortune and death

He plays harmless pranks on Joseph

He spreads rumors about Joseph to Mister Salgado and Lucy-amma

He stands up for himself when Joseph criticizes him
18 Why did Pando-nona rub hot chilies on her husband's skin?
She suspected he was in collaboration with the The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

She read in a British magazine it could cure his arthritis

She wanted to punish him for his infidelity

She wanted to "spice up" their love life
19 How does Triton attempt to "better himself" while working for Mister Salgado?
He writes his own cookbook

He begins meditating and exercising

He copies Mister Salgado's habits, like making lists

He prays for Joseph
20 Why doesn't Triton tell Mister Salgado that Joseph assaulted him?
He doesn't want the event to change his relationship with Mister Salgado

He doesn't want to tarnish Joseph's reputation

He is disgusted by the memory and cannot voice it

He fears Mister Salgado will fire him
21 How does Triton feel about Mister Salgado?
He develops romantic feelings for Mister Salgado and imagines their marriage

He grudgingly respects Mister Salgado, though he resents his lost education

He admires Mister Salgado almost to the point of obsession

He thinks of Mister Salgado as an older brother and tries to play with him
22 What is Mister Salgado's relationship to education?
He was educated at Colombo's "best schools" and constantly studies

He discounts education as a tool of oppression

He insists Triton attend school, believing all children should receive an education

He is only "self-educated," having been denied a formal education
23 What force does Mister Salgado blame for the political unrest in Sri Lanka?
The "scourge of supersition"

The "scars of colonialism"

The "politics of envy"

The "rising sea levels"
24 Why does Triton want to replace Joseph?
He thinks Joseph doesn't deserve a high position because of his cultural background

He believes that working for Mister Salgado will help him "really change the world"

He wants to save enough money to attend college

He wants to get close to Mister Salgado to sell his secrets to The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
25 Why does Triton eventually feel sympathy for Joseph?
He sees Joseph cry over his wife's grave

He witnesses Mister Salgado beating Joseph

He realizes Joseph was corrupted by resentment toward his circumstances

Lucy-amma tells Triton that Joseph only started drinking after suffering a workplace injury

Nature environment and tropical elements

Though Mister Salgado tirelessly discusses the sea, and Triton spends many months in the oceanside bungalow, Triton only ventures into the coral reef once. He describes "Mister Salgado's real reef" in rich detail, conjuring an overwhelming,...

Asked by Denise V #1160949

Answered by jill d #170087 on 1/15/2024 7:50 PM

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Culture and Waterscapes

Culture:

And on Thursday the haberdasher appeared with a cardboard trunk on his head. There was no point in his coming to our house — he sold only to women and the only woman in our house was \Mcy-amma who never even looked at what he had to...

Asked by Denise V #1160949

Answered by jill d #170087 on 1/10/2024 10:53 AM

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What are Tritons realizations about himself and his relationship with Miss Nili

In Part II, Triton comes to appreciate the role that Nili plays in not only Mr. Salgado's life, but his own as well. Her gift is generous and unexpected, though the one-hundred rupee note the cookbook contained was a complete and total shock. Nili...

Asked by Sive G #1294943

Answered by Aslan on 3/12/2023 7:02 PM

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Reef

by Romesh Gunesekera

Reef Quiz 1 (The Breach and Kolla)

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