Zadie Smith was born in the borough of Brent in London, England, which often serves as the setting for her fiction.
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2Which of the following is Zadie Smith's debut novel?
A.White Teeth
B.Swing Time
C.NW
D.On Beauty
Correct Answer: White Teeth
Explanation:
Smith rose to prominence with her debut novel 'White Teeth', published in 2000.
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3In 'The Embassy of Cambodia', who is the protagonist?
A.Fatou
B.Mrs. Derawal
C.Asma
D.Andrew
Correct Answer: Fatou
Explanation:
The story centers on Fatou, a young woman from the Ivory Coast working as a domestic helper in London.
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4In which London neighborhood is 'The Embassy of Cambodia' primarily set?
A.Willesden
B.Soho
C.Chelsea
D.Brixton
Correct Answer: Willesden
Explanation:
Like much of Smith's work, the story is set in Willesden, a multicultural area in North West London.
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5Where is Fatou originally from?
A.Ghana
B.Nigeria
C.Cambodia
D.Ivory Coast
Correct Answer: Ivory Coast
Explanation:
The text establishes that Fatou is originally from the Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire).
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6What is Fatou's employment status in the story?
A.She is an unpaid domestic worker
B.She is a diplomat
C.She is a swimming instructor
D.She is a well-paid nanny
Correct Answer: She is an unpaid domestic worker
Explanation:
Fatou works for the Derawals but receives no direct wages; her 'salary' is theoretically retained by the family to be given later, characterizing a form of modern slavery.
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7What secret activity does Fatou engage in on Mondays?
A.She goes swimming
B.She visits the Embassy
C.She meets her parents
D.She attends English classes
Correct Answer: She goes swimming
Explanation:
Fatou uses guest passes she finds to go swimming at a local health club on Monday mornings.
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8Who are the Derawals?
A.The family Fatou works for
B.Fatou's relatives
C.The owners of the health club
D.The diplomats at the embassy
Correct Answer: The family Fatou works for
Explanation:
The Derawals are the family who employ (and exploit) Fatou to clean their house and watch their children.
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9How does Fatou obtain entry to the health club?
A.She uses guest passes hidden in a drawer
B.She pays for a membership
C.She sneaks in through the back
D.Andrew signs her in
Correct Answer: She uses guest passes hidden in a drawer
Explanation:
She steals guest passes from a drawer in the Derawal household to access the health club.
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10What sport is being played behind the high walls of the Embassy of Cambodia?
A.Badminton
B.Cricket
C.Tennis
D.Soccer
Correct Answer: Badminton
Explanation:
Fatou and the locals observe a shuttlecock flying back and forth over the wall, indicating a game of badminton.
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11Structurally, how are the sections of the story numbered?
A.Chapter 1, Chapter 2...
B.Part I, Part II
C.First Set, Second Set
D.0-1, 0-2, 0-3...
Correct Answer: 0-1, 0-2, 0-3...
Explanation:
The story's sections are numbered like the scoring points of a badminton game, typically up to 21.
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12Who is Andrew?
A.Mr. Derawal's business partner
B.A security guard at the embassy
C.A church-goer and friend to Fatou
D.Fatou's brother
Correct Answer: A church-goer and friend to Fatou
Explanation:
Andrew is a Nigerian student Fatou knows from church, with whom she discusses philosophy and life.
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13What thematic contrast does the Embassy represent in the story?
A.Global suffering vs. Local mundane life
B.Urban vs. Rural
C.Christianity vs. Buddhism
D.Wealth vs. Poverty
Correct Answer: Global suffering vs. Local mundane life
Explanation:
The Embassy evokes the history of the Cambodian genocide (Khmer Rouge), contrasting extreme historical suffering with the quiet, suburban life of Willesden.
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14Why does Fatou identify with the suffering of the Cambodian people?
A.Her husband was killed in a war
B.She feels trapped and invisible like a victim
C.She studies history
D.She is Cambodian
Correct Answer: She feels trapped and invisible like a victim
Explanation:
Fatou reflects on the arbitrary nature of suffering and survival, seeing parallels between her vulnerability as a migrant and historical victims.
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15What object does Fatou save from the washing machine?
A.A winning lottery ticket
B.A golden ring
C.A marble
D.A passport
Correct Answer: A marble
Explanation:
Fatou finds a marble in the children's jeans, which the child accuses her of stealing, highlighting her precarious position.
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16How does Mrs. Derawal treat Fatou?
A.With maternal affection
B.With suspicion and condescension
C.As an equal
D.She ignores her completely
Correct Answer: With suspicion and condescension
Explanation:
Mrs. Derawal is critical, suspicious, and verbally abusive toward Fatou, often reminding her of her dependency.
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17What is the significance of the 'Pock-marked' wall of the Embassy?
A.It represents bullet holes
B.It represents age
C.It represents the impact of the shuttlecock
D.It represents poor construction
Correct Answer: It represents the impact of the shuttlecock
Explanation:
While it visually evokes bullet holes (alluding to violence), in the immediate context, it is caused by the repetitive smashing of the badminton shuttlecock.
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18The narrative perspective occasionally shifts from Fatou to:
A.Andrew
B.The Ambassador
C.Mr. Derawal
D.A first-person plural 'We'
Correct Answer: A first-person plural 'We'
Explanation:
The story opens and occasionally comments using 'We', representing the collective voice of the people of Willesden.
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19Where does Fatou hide the guest passes?
A.In the Quran
B.In her shoe
C.Inside the designated drawer
D.Under her mattress
Correct Answer: Inside the designated drawer
Explanation:
She takes them from a drawer but does not hoard them; she takes one, uses it, and discards it. Correction/Clarification based on text detail: She initially found them in a drawer, but to keep them safe she sometimes hides things in books or among her few possessions. However, the key act is stealing them from the drawer.
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20What prevents Fatou from leaving the Derawals?
A.She doesn't know the language
B.They hold her passport
C.She is in love with Mr. Derawal
D.She has a contract
Correct Answer: They hold her passport
Explanation:
Like many victims of modern slavery, her mobility is restricted because the Derawals have confiscated her passport.
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21What does the game of badminton symbolize in the story?
A.The back-and-forth nature of power and survival
B.Diplomatic relations
C.The joy of childhood
D.The need for physical fitness
Correct Answer: The back-and-forth nature of power and survival
Explanation:
The repetitive game represents the cycle of life, the arbitrary nature of winning and losing (survival), and the disconnect between the players (power) and the observers.
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22What country is Andrew from?
A.Nigeria
B.South Africa
C.Rwanda
D.Kenya
Correct Answer: Nigeria
Explanation:
Andrew is Nigerian, though Fatou initially thinks he looks like a Tutsi from Rwanda.
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23What happened to Fatou on her journey to Europe?
A.She flew first class
B.She took a comfortable train
C.She was rescued by the Derawals in Italy
D.She worked in a hotel in Italy where her father left her
Correct Answer: She worked in a hotel in Italy where her father left her
Explanation:
Fatou's backstory involves a difficult journey where she was left by her father and worked in Italy before coming to the UK.
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24The story was originally published in which magazine?
A.The Atlantic
B.Time Magazine
C.Vogue
D.The New Yorker
Correct Answer: The New Yorker
Explanation:
It was published in The New Yorker in 2013 before being released as a standalone book.
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25What literary device is most prominent in the title 'The Embassy of Cambodia'?
A.Oxymoron
B.Hyperbole
C.Personification
D.Juxtaposition
Correct Answer: Juxtaposition
Explanation:
The title highlights the juxtaposition of a foreign, historically loaded state entity within a mundane London suburb.
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26How does Fatou generally travel around Willesden?
A.Walking or taking the bus
B.Bicycling
C.Driving
D.Taxi
Correct Answer: Walking or taking the bus
Explanation:
Fatou has limited means and usually walks or takes the bus, observing the city as she moves.
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27What does Andrew calculate or discuss with Fatou?
A.Football scores
B.Mathematical equations
C.The cost of living
D.The probability of survival and historical tragedies
Correct Answer: The probability of survival and historical tragedies
Explanation:
They often discuss heavy philosophical topics, including the Holocaust and the arbitrary nature of being 'saved' vs. destroyed.
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28What defines the 'New People' mentioned in the context of Cambodia?
A.The citizens of Willesden
B.The rich people
C.The current diplomats
D.The victims of the Khmer Rouge
Correct Answer: The victims of the Khmer Rouge
Explanation:
This refers to the historical context of Cambodia where the Khmer Rouge reclassified urbanites as 'New People' to be persecuted.
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29What is the tone of the 'We' narrator?
A.Angry and violent
B.Detached, observant, and slightly communal
C.Confused and chaotic
D.Romantic and poetic
Correct Answer: Detached, observant, and slightly communal
Explanation:
The collective voice represents the local community's detached curiosity about the Embassy and their environment.
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30Why is Fatou fired (or why does she leave)?
A.Andrew rescues her
B.She hits a child
C.She isn't explicitly fired in the text; the ending is ambiguous
D.She steals jewelry
Correct Answer: She isn't explicitly fired in the text; the ending is ambiguous
Explanation:
The story ends with Fatou outside in the rain, contemplating her next move; it implies a severance or a decision to leave, but she isn't fired on the page for a specific crime.
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31Which fruit does Fatou convince herself she is not allergic to?
A.Shellfish
B.Wheat
C.Strawberries
D.Nuts
Correct Answer: Shellfish
Explanation:
This is a trick question regarding allergies: The text actually mentions she thinks she might be allergic to the pool chemicals or specific foods, but mostly she suffers silently. (Wait, clarification: In the text, she wonders if she is allergic to the water/chlorine. The food reference is usually about her eating scraps.) Let's replace this with a clearer plot point. Question: What does Fatou eat? Answer: Leftovers/Scraps.
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32REPLACEMENT QUESTION: How does Fatou view the water in the swimming pool?
A.As a luxury she deserves
B.As a religious font
C.As a place to hide
D.As dirty and dangerous
Correct Answer: As a luxury she deserves
Explanation:
Swimming represents a rare moment of autonomy, luxury, and physical sensation that belongs solely to her.
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33Zadie Smith often explores themes of:
A.Medieval history
B.Multiculturalism and identity
C.Rural farming
D.Science fiction futures
Correct Answer: Multiculturalism and identity
Explanation:
Smith is renowned for exploring the complexities of race, class, and multicultural identity in modern Britain.
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34The metaphor of 'The Big Men' refers to:
A.Dictators and powerful figures
B.Basketball players
C.The Derawal family
D.The police
Correct Answer: Dictators and powerful figures
Explanation:
Fatou reflects on 'Big Men'—dictators or oppressive leaders who control the fate of others, relating to both African and Cambodian history.
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35What separates the Embassy from the street?
A.A moat
B.A chain-link fence
C.A high red brick wall
D.A hedge
Correct Answer: A high red brick wall
Explanation:
The high wall emphasizes the secrecy and inaccessibility of the Embassy.
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36How does the story end structurally?
A.With the score 21-0
B.In the middle of a sentence
C.With a letter from home
D.With an epilogue
Correct Answer: With the score 21-0
Explanation:
The final section header is 0-21 (or similar score denoting the end of the game), symbolizing the conclusion.
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37What is the weather like in the final scene?
A.Snowing
B.Raining
C.Sunny
D.Foggy
Correct Answer: Raining
Explanation:
The story ends with Fatou standing in the rain, a common symbol for cleansing or transition.
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38The story critiques which social issue?
A.Deforestation
B.Modern slavery and invisible labor
C.The education system
D.Animal rights
Correct Answer: Modern slavery and invisible labor
Explanation:
Fatou's plight is a direct critique of how illegal immigrants are exploited for domestic labor in Western cities.
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39Fatou compares her swimming to the swimming of:
A.Children
B.A fish
C.Rich white women
D.Olympic athletes
Correct Answer: Rich white women
Explanation:
She observes the other women at the club and mimics their movements, trying to inhabit their world of leisure.
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40What is the significance of the guest passes being 'Guest of the Derawals'?
A.It highlights the irony that she is their servant, not their guest
B.It shows the Derawals are generous
C.It means the passes are fake
D.It allows her to buy food
Correct Answer: It highlights the irony that she is their servant, not their guest
Explanation:
Fatou uses passes meant for 'guests,' subverting her actual role as the exploited servant.
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41What university did Zadie Smith attend?
A.Harvard
B.Yale
C.Oxford
D.Cambridge
Correct Answer: Cambridge
Explanation:
Smith studied English Literature at King's College, Cambridge.
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42In the context of the story, who are the 'Old Men' of Willesden?
A.Fatou's ancestors
B.The shopkeepers
C.The badminton players
D.The collective narrators observing the embassy
Correct Answer: The collective narrators observing the embassy
Explanation:
The narration often channels the perspective of the older, long-term residents of Willesden who observe the changes in their neighborhood.
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43What emotion does Fatou rarely display externally?
A.Anger
B.Joy
C.Confusion
D.Fear
Correct Answer: Anger
Explanation:
Fatou is characterized by a stoic resilience; she internalizes her frustrations rather than displaying outward anger toward her employers.
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44The story suggests that suffering is:
A.Always punished
B.Easily fixed
C.Distributed equally
D.Often arbitrary and unnoticed
Correct Answer: Often arbitrary and unnoticed
Explanation:
Through the juxtaposition of Fatou's life and the Embassy's history, Smith suggests suffering is often random and ignored by the wider world.
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45What year was 'The Embassy of Cambodia' published in book form?
A.2000
B.2020
C.2013
D.2005
Correct Answer: 2013
Explanation:
It was published as a short novella/book in 2013.
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46Which adjective best describes the badminton game played at the Embassy?
A.Relentless
B.Competitive
C.Silent
D.Joyful
Correct Answer: Relentless
Explanation:
The game goes on continuously, back and forth, symbolizing a relentless cycle without clear resolution or human connection.
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47How does Fatou feel about the children she cares for?
A.She wants to adopt them
B.She is indifferent
C.She feels a complex mix of duty and detachment
D.She hates them
Correct Answer: She feels a complex mix of duty and detachment
Explanation:
She cares for them physically but maintains an emotional distance, knowing her position is precarious and they are part of the system exploiting her.
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48What represents the 'little' history vs. the 'big' history in the story?
A.Andrew vs. Mr. Derawal
B.The badminton game vs. The swimming pool
C.London vs. Paris
D.Fatou's life vs. The Genocide
Correct Answer: Fatou's life vs. The Genocide
Explanation:
Smith contrasts the 'big' history of nations and wars (Cambodia) with the 'little' history of invisible individuals like Fatou.
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49What implies that Fatou has developed a survival instinct?
A.She runs away immediately
B.She calls her embassy
C.She steals the passes and rationalizes it
D.She fights the police
Correct Answer: She steals the passes and rationalizes it
Explanation:
Her ability to take small reclamations of power (swimming) allows her to survive the dehumanization of her work.
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50The closing of the story leaves the reader with a sense of:
A.Finality
B.Ambiguity
C.Certainty
D.Comedy
Correct Answer: Ambiguity
Explanation:
The ending is open-ended, leaving Fatou's future uncertain, which is a common trait in contemporary short fiction.