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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. Where must Mason deliver the car in order to get it to his cousin, Dale?

2. Who is the one who tends to throw punches when he is talked to in a less than respectful way?

3. Where is Leon working to help out with the lunch rush, as she eventually discovers?

4. Where is Mason Louie's repair shop located in the city where Leon and Leila live?

5. Normally when Leila comes to visit Leon, what does he make for her to drink during their time together?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Leon let Leila take him to him to sign up for Social Security at the start of this chapter?

2. What does Leila smell when she goes to the Benevolent Association alone after work on Friday?

3. What were the rumors that the boys at Nina's school used to spread about her and her dating life?

4. What did Leon have to do in order to gain entry into the United States, according to the story Leila has heard 90 times?

5. What does Leila learn about Leon when she is making the rounds again of Leon's hangouts?

6. How does Nina propose to help Leila with the situation with Mah?

7. Though she wants to, what is the one thing that Leila does not say to Mason when he gets upset about work?

8. What does Leon ask Mason to do after Leon has taken two buses to get to Jorge's parking lot?

9. Who is You Thin Toy, Leila's favorite of all of Leon's fleabag friends?

10. What is the secret of Nina that Mah decides to share with everyone for no good reason?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The suicide in this novel seems to be the one event which pulls everyone together, while at the same time driving them all apart.

Part 1: Why do you think the suicide affects Leon in the way it does?

Part 2: How do you think Leila has been changed by the suicide of Ona?

Part 3: Why do you think Ona decided to kill herself?

Essay Topic 2

The struggle between the 'normal' culture and the Chinese culture is seen throughout the novel.

Part 1: Why do you think that modern culture has trouble accepting foreigners?

Part 2: Do you think it's fair to try to push one culture into behaving in a certain way? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you think that differing cultures can coexist peacefully and without conflict? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The affair that Mah had seems to be one of the most difficult times of their relationship, even the book notes that summer was the worst.

Part 1: Why do you think that Mah decided to have an affair?

Part 2: Do you think that Mah and Leon should have stayed together after the affair was revealed? Why or why not?

Part 3: Why do you think that Mah wants to be a family again after the affair?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 719 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample