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 the cashier as a former servant of Mister Salgado's

He recognizes that the cashier is Sri Lankan

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 spills a few drops of gasoline on the asphalt

He takes a photo of the car

He carefully documents the car's mileage
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?
Triton speaks better English and can explain an issue to the cashier's employer

Triton knows the number for a taxi service to take the cashier to the airport

The cashier wants to distract Triton, who received incorrect change

The cashier wants to call home for news about the war but cannot understand the operator's accent
5 How does Triton react to the drunk man tapping on the window?
He is embarrassed that he knows the drunk man

He feels immediate panic

He feels compelled to protect the cashier

He is disgusted by the man's physical appearance
6 Who is the only character named in "The Breach"?
Mohan

Nili

Mister Salgado

Triton
7 Why is the opening chapter entitled "The Breach"?
Speaking Sinhala is a breach of Triton's contract

Triton is "into the breach" by helping the cashier

The cashier's request is a breach of etiquette

Triton's interaction with the cashier prompts him to remember his past
8 What double meaning does the title "Kolla" carry?
"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

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

"Kolla" is Triton's nickname for Mister Salgado; the chapter outlines Triton's growing affection for Mister Salgado
9 Why does Mister Salgado hire Triton?
He needs Triton's culinary expertise

He wants Triton to work as a pearl diver

He wants to prove he isn't prejudiced against Tamils

He feels sympathy for Triton's situation
10 What experience sparks Triton's love for cooking?
Watching his mother grill rainbow trout

Cutting onions with Lucy-amma

Planning a Christmas dinner after Joseph is fired

Eating Mister Salgado's leftovers
11 Why doesn't Triton receive a formal education?
His parents cannot afford private school

He does not enjoy school

He cannot speak Sinhala, the official language of education

He accidentally burned down the schoolhouse
12 Initially, why does Triton hate Joseph?
Joseph is a Christian

Joseph receives all Mister Salgado's attention

Joseph assaults Triton

Joseph is cruel and rude to Triton
13 How does Triton protect himself against Joseph?
He carries a crucifix, knowing Joseph is a Christian

He carries a knife, thinking he will be able to stab Joseph

He carries raw onions, knowing they make Joseph tear up

He carries garlic, mistakenly believing Joseph is a vampire
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 resents Joseph for leaving him alone to do all the housework

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

He misses Mister Salgado and longs to join him
15 What remains constant in Lucy-amma's life?
The politics in her hometown

Her resentment over her low caste

Her love for her children

Her work as a cook for the Salgado family
16 How does Triton try to get Mister Salgado's attention?
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

He prepares an elaborate meal to impress Mister Salgado's friends
17 How does Triton deal with his fear of Joseph?
He plays harmless pranks on Joseph

He imagines Jospeh's misfortune and death

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 wanted to punish him for his infidelity

She wanted to "spice up" their love life

She read in a British magazine it could cure his arthritis
19 How does Triton attempt to "better himself" while working for Mister Salgado?
He writes his own cookbook

He copies Mister Salgado's habits, like making lists

He begins meditating and exercising

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 fears Mister Salgado will fire him

He is disgusted by the memory and cannot voice it
21 How does Triton feel about Mister Salgado?
He develops romantic feelings for Mister Salgado and imagines their marriage

He admires Mister Salgado almost to the point of obsession

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

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

He was educated at Colombo's "best schools" and constantly studies

He is only "self-educated," having been denied a formal education

He discounts education as a tool of oppression
23 What force does Mister Salgado blame for the political unrest in Sri Lanka?
The "politics of envy"

The "scars of colonialism"

The "rising sea levels"

The "scourge of supersition"
24 Why does Triton want to replace Joseph?
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

He thinks Joseph doesn't deserve a high position because of his cultural background
25 Why does Triton eventually feel sympathy for Joseph?
Lucy-amma tells Triton that Joseph only started drinking after suffering a workplace injury

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

Triton definitely felt a sense of love for Miss Nili, but the love was never acted upon romantically. He admired Miss Nili and respected her, but if there were any romantic feelings, they were left unspoken.

Asked by Samkelo Z #1361059

Answered by jill d #170087 on 3/16/2025 11:51 AM

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Reef

Triton realizes that his relationship with Nili is based on admiration, respect, and devotion. He also realizes that his admiration for her is not personal... he isn't looking for a romantic relationship, but rather, based upon his his desire to...

Asked by Akhanya T #1360453

Answered by jill d #170087 on 3/6/2025 8:51 PM

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Contextualize the Extract

I'm sorry, you have not provided the extract in question.

Asked by Mihle X #1360218

Answered by jill d #170087 on 2/24/2025 4:17 PM

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Reef

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Reef Quiz 1 (The Breach and Kolla)

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