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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 did the couple that made the deal before the sisters win?

2. In Chapter 9, how old was the narrator when Saigon was falling?

3. In Chapter 8, why can’t the narrator’s mother tell her more about the conversation she should have with her child?

4. Where did Thuy and her family live when they first came to the United States?

5. In Chapter 12, where does the narrator live?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where did Mr. Cohen live before he lived in the United States?

2. In Chapter 10, what did the major discover when he awoke for a second time?

3. What is the memory of fighting that the narrator shares in Chapter 9?

4. Why are iguanas popular in Puerto Vallarta?

5. In Chapter 8, why didn’t the narrator marry Bao?

6. In Chapter 12, how did the narrator have the courage to leave Vietnam?

7. What is a marriage ceremony like in Vietnam according to the narrator in Chapter 8?

8. In Chapter 12, how does the narrator describe the special shoe that he owns?

9. How does the narrator in Chapter 8 feel about her baby being a girl and why?

10. In Chapter 12, why didn’t the narrator’s family come with him to America?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Francine’s father is almost as real as a shadow to her when she lives in Vietnam. What story does Francine tell about a shadow father? Could that represent her relationship with her father? How did the long absence affect their relationship? Did coming to America improve their relationship? Does Francine think their relationship can improve?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 3, Khanh says that he does not believe in omens and symbols. Why does it seem that Khanh might believe in omens and symbols? What does he observe on his trip to the Houston airport? What connection does he see between signs along the way and what he is going or about to do? On the way back home, why is the symbolism more obvious to Khanh? Even though Khanh states that he isn’t a man who believes in symbols and omens, is that a true statement? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In the novel, the younger generation seems to have few or no ties to Vietnam.

a. In Chapter 5, how does Bill’s dad feel about his son being more American than Vietnamese?

b. In Chapter 15, how does Dao feel about everyone except his oldest daughter?

c. Do these men feel that holding onto their heritage is important?

d. Why does the next generation feel that their heritage is not important?

(see the answer keys)

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