life of Pi test 1

What does the name "Mamaji" mean?

"Mama" means uncle and "ji" shows respect and affection.

What cities does Mr. Patel say he would like to visit?

Oxford, Mecca, Varanasi, Jerusalem, Paris

Whom is the narrator in this chapter describing?

The narrator is describing Pi

Why did the person speaking in chapter 1 choose to study the sloth?

The sloths demeanor- calm, quiet, and introspective - did something to soothe my shattered self. The speaker is probably Pi Patel

What problem does Pi have with agnostics?

Agnostics refuse to make any assertion about God . they dwell in doubt.

What animal does Pi's father believe is "even more dangerous than us"?

Anthropomorphized animal. People should not make the mistake of believing animals are like humans, with human and understanding love.

How are atheists like believers, according to Pi?

Atheists also follow their reason, once they reach the bounds of reason, they leap by proclaiming that there is no God. Believers also go to the edge of reason, then find God beyond this edge. (both stick to their beliefs)

What can we infer about the narrator so far?

He came from India. He suffered a severe medical problem.

How, according to Piscine, did his father feel about running the zoo? How did Pi feel about living there?

He describes his fathers feelings by saying that running a zoo is a hotelkeeper's worst nightmare. The person responsible for the animals has its endless responsibilities and rewards. Pi loved living in the zoo. He has many amazing memories from there.

What happens when the waiter accuses Mr. Patel of being "fresh off the boat"?

He feels ashamed, more animal than human.

Why does Mr. Kumar not believe in God?

He had polio when he was younger and he tried calling on God to help him and He didn't. Science and medicine cured him so now he believes in science instead of God.

Why did the author go to India?

He had written a book that was published in Canada and it wasn't received well. He felt defeated and he decided to go to India to work on his next book.

Why does Mr. Kumar call the zoo his "temple"?

He looks at animals in the zoo as models for human behavior. Just as religious people have holy books and figures to imitate, Mr. Kumar Has the natural world to show him how things should be.

What were Mr. Patel's two majors in college? What connection does he make between the two?

He majored in zoology and religious study. He compares religious studies majors to sloths and says they are confused and hesitant. Sloths on the other hand remind him of God. Mr Patel sees design order and beauty in the natural world.

What was the author's "one preparation" for his trip to India?

He only knew that people used words that English people didn't use. Words like bamboozled.

What detail does the author note in this chapter?

He says that Pi's kitchen is jammed with far more food than he could eat. As if he is stocking up for some disaster.

What does the adult Piscine say about the idea of freedom versus the "prison" of zoos?

He says that all animals want consistency and regularity. They mark off a small space and are happy as long as they are inside and everyone else stays out.

What qualities does Pi show in choosing to change his own name? What kind of person is Pi Patel?

He shows a will to survive and the ability to take control of a situation.

Pi's father thinks that it is important that Pi and his brother, Ravi, know how dangerous animals can be. What does Mr. Patel do to show his sons how dangerous tigers are? What theme of the book does this episode emphasize? WRITE OUT

He starves one of the zoo's tigers and releases a goat into its cage. He makes Pi and Ravi watch as the ravenous tiger kills and eats the goat.

Why does the author mail his manuscript for the book about Portugal to a made-up address in Siberia?

He thinks his novel is worthless.

Piscine's classmates tease him about his name, deliberately mispronouncing it. When he begins Petit Seminaire, what does Piscine do to introduce himself to his new class?

He walks up to the chalkboard and writes his name and then he writes ""Pi" which is what he wants to go by.

What did Piscine's father do before he became a zookeeper? What comment does Piscine make about the transition from hotel owner to zookeeper?

He was a hotel manager. Pi says that running a zoo is not very different.

Describe the relationship between Pi and Mr. Kumar.

He's not just a teacher to Pi, he's also his mentor. Although they disagree with their beliefs, Pi still admires him. He likes Mr. Kumar so much that he later majors in zoology.

Does Piscine think animals are better off in the wild or in a zoo?

In a zoo

Was Mamaji a good swimmer?

Mamaji was an excellent, champion swimmer.

According to Pi, why do zoologists "commonly say...that the most dangerous animal in a zoo is man"?

Man is the one who causes problems in zoos by tormenting the animals. (razors nails broken glass fed to animals"

Why does the author have Mr. Kumar call Piscine "3.14"?

Mr Kumar is a highly analytical man who sees the word arranged in geometric order.

Explain what animals represent to Mr. Kumar and how his views on animals differ from Pi's.

Mr Kumar thinks that animals are fine illustrations sof science and Pi thinks that animals are a kind of spiritual harmony.

What is most significant about the story that the author hears?

Mr. Adirubasamy said that the story he is about to hear will make you believe in God.

Who first tells the author about Mr. Patel's story?

Mr. Adirubasamy who he meets in a coffee shop.

How does Piscine link his statement about freedom in zoos to religion?

People no longer look upon religion favorably because they consider it cofining.

What might be significant about the name Pi?

Pi is the ratio of a circle's diameter to its circumference and circles will be very important in this book.

Analyze the description of Mr. Kumar in this chapter. What language and imagery does Pi use to describe him?

Pi says Mr. Kumars construction was geometric: he looked like two triangles, a small one and a larger one, balanced on two parallel lines.

What does Piscine imply when he says that "a house is compressed territory, where our basic needs can be fulfilled close by and safely"?

Piscine is comparing human habitation with animal habitation. Just like a man in a house who has everything he needs, an animal in a zoo is provided with all of his necessities in a small convenient space.

What is significant about the narrator's name?

Piscine was named after a famous swimming pool, and he loves to swim.

What did Piscine's father do for a living?

Piscine's father was a zookeeper.

Near the end of this chapter, the story makes an abrupt change. We started the chapter with the narrator talking about his love of animals and his personal beliefs about God. At the end of the chapter, however, he begins talking about doctors, nurses, and his medical health. What do you think the author is trying to convey here?

The author is using foreshadowing to hint at the fact that the narrator had some sort of medical trauma.

Who is the first speaker in the book? What kind of person does he seem to be? How can you tell?

The author. He seems a little bit romantic rather than practical. He does things on a whim.

According to Piscine, what are the only two things that are important to wild animals?

The avoidance of enemies and getting food and water.

In this chapter, we finally learn the full name of our narrator. What is it and how did he get it?

The narrator is Piscine Molitor Patel. He was named after Mamji's favorite swimming pool in France.

What distinction does Mr. Patel make between the ocean and the swimming pool?

The ocean is chaotic and uncontrollable, while the swimming pool has more of a formal flatness.

Once again, the point of view shifts from first person to third person. Who do you think is speaking in this chapter?

The speaker is the author

Why does Mr. Kumar love the zoo?

The zoo reassures him that the universe is orderly.

What significant trait did the narrator and Mamaji share?

They both loved swimming.

Chapter 2 is very short. Why do you think the author included this chapter? What is hinted at in this chapter?

This chapter provides a transition between Pi's description of his life in Canada and his childhood in india. This chapter also gives us a description of Pi.

Pi says, "The obsession with putting ourselves at the center of everything is the bane not only of theologists but also of zoologists." What might he mean by this?

We can understand neither God nor nature by comparing them to ourselves.

What can we determine about Mr. Patel from his tone?

1.He seems to be gentle and emotional. 2.He expresses love for a boy who beat him in a scholarship contest 3.He tells us that he once fainted when a faucet was turned on because the experience was so shocking 4.He is also very interested in and knowledgeable about animals

Do you believe everything the narrator says in the "Author's Note"? How reliable do you think he is? Why?

Yes. The author lets us know that the reality of the book is not straightforward. I think he is reliable because he has provided us with a lot of background information.