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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was Andrew's birth name?

2. Who cared for Andrew as a young boy when his parents left town for business?

3. What was Andrew's father's name?

4. Who foretold Chi's death?

5. What did Wong, the man Andrew befriended at the Indonesian refugee camp, do for a living?

Short Essay Questions

1. What horrific experiences did Andrew's father live through while imprisoned in the torture camp?

2. What happened to Andrew's family in the year after their first child's death?

3. What happened to Andrew when the Indonesian freighter intercepted the fishing boat?

4. What conflicts did Andrew face in American school after immigrating from Vietnam?

5. What was the first conversation Andrew had with Tyle?

6. What was Andrew's reaction to seeing his grandmother's old house in Phan Tiet, his childhood home?

7. What message did the Vietnamese Buddah give to Chi and Andrew about their futures?

8. What happened when Andrew's uncles took him to their local bar?

9. What happened to Andrew while on the bus headed toward Mihn Luong Prison?

10. After returning to California from Mexico, where did Andrew live?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Andrew and his family moved to America, Andrew's life was suddenly overwhelmed with two characteristics: religion and violence. First, describe how these two elements were introduced into Andrew's life upon moving to America. Then, explain what symbolism can be found in these two elements when considering the stereotypes of American life to foreigners. If Andrew were to move to America today, do you think his experiences would be the same? Why or why not? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

All of Andrew's siblings live/d lives that involve some level of sexual deviance. What events from their upbringing do you think psychologically prompted these behaviors. Had the Pham children grown up in a more stable household, do you think the children's lives would be different as adults? If so, how? If not, why? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

One of the main reasons Andrew decided to make his bicycle trek through Vietnam was to escape his life in America. First, describe Andrew's professional and private life in America at the time when he set out for his journey. What did Andrew hope to gain from his travel experiences? In your opinion, was Andrew's travel through Vietnam a success? How can you tell? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

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This section contains 1,100 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample