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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. Leon wonders whether Ona was _________ or whether she was given drugs to cause her to jump.

2. What is Leila preparing for when she spreads out pieces of a bulletin board in the living room?

3. Leon wants to blame someone for the suicide of Ona, so he blames _______________.

4. What has Leon taken apart in order to fix it and to give it back to Mah as a present?

5. What is the word that Luday keeps repeating to Mah which helps her to feel calmer?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the things Leila does that makes Mason feel bothered, according to this chapter?

2. What do the sewing ladies do for Mah and the rest of the family after the death of Ona?

3. What are the Confucian virtues, according to the start of this chapter?

4. What does Mah do when Nina decides to bring the urn with Ona's ashes to Baby Clothes?

5. What does ten-year-old Ona do in order to get Leon to come back home after hearing about the affair?

6. What does Leila recall about a bathroom stall where she goes after hearing the news about the suicide of Ona?

7. Why did Leila have to translate between Leon and a Woolworth's manager when Ona was eight or nine?

8. Leila wonders why Mason does not introduce her to his family. What is the reason?

9. What has Leila prepared for the afternoon art class in the classroom where she is teaching?

10. Why don't the sewing women play music when they are working in the sweatshop together?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Fitting into the crowd is something that the characters in this story struggle with - some want to fit in and others do not.

Part 1: Why is it so important to fit into the crowd in life?

Part 2: Why do you think it's better to fit into a crowd than to go against it?

Part 3: How do you think the characters in this story could fit into the American society more easily? What might they do in order to fit in?

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

While the characters are struggling to find their own identities, it seems that many secrets are being held which are only making it more difficult to keep the family together.

Part 1: Why do you think Leila finds it so difficult to tell others about her elopement?

Part 2: Why do you think the characters in this story feel they need to keep secrets from each other?

Part 3: How is the Chinese culture supporting the keeping of secrets within families and from the outside world?

(see the answer keys)

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