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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 does Leon threaten to do when Mah calls him useless after he puts only half the lights up at the store?

2. What does Leila reveal to Leon about Nina's life, though she makes him promise not to tell Mah?

3. Mason thinks his boss should focus on ____________ cars, rather than ____________ cars.

4. Leila does not want the big ___________ that Mah insists on having to meet her obligations to relatives.

5. What is NOT a part of Leon's story of how he came to America 50 years before?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Leon want to do with his newly received $25 from working in the kitchen at the lunch rush?

2. What happens during the first case Leila has as a family counselor at the start of this chapter?

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

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

5. What is Zeke so excited about when he pulls up in the white Mercedes where Mason works?

6. What does Mah want Leila to do when Leila calls to check up on Mah?

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

8. Why is Mason in a bad mood when he and Leila go to pick up Leon in Vallejo?

9. What are some of the reasons why Leila's shoulders are tense, according to this chapter?

10. Why did Nina decide to quit her past job as a flight attendant, according to the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Love has a number of different definitions and examples during the course of this story.

Part 1: Do you think Leon and Mah love each other? Why or why not?

Part 2: Why do you think that Nina is looking for love within her tour group job?

Part 3: Do you think that Leila is truly in love with Mason? Why or why not?

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 sheltered existence of Chinatown seems to have the possibility of hurting those who live there as much as it seems to help them.

Part 1: Why do you think neighborhoods like Chinatown still exist today?

Part 2: Do you think that sheltered neighborhoods are beneficial to their inhabitants? Why or why not?

Part 3: In what ways are these cultural neighborhoods making life more difficult for those who live there? Or aren't they?

(see the answer keys)

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