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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. Who comes to the house, bringing comfort food and giving advice to the grieving family members?

2. What does Leon do after his big meal as things have been let go while he was at sea?

3. Leon wants to talk about _________ and about how much he loves her after the suicide.

4. What has Mah brought for Leon as a present after her trip to Hong Kong?

5. Leon's speaking ___________ makes Leila nervous as he paces back and forth.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. When Mason and Leila come to fetch Leon, what do they find he has done in his apartment?

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

5. What does Mah want to do in order to prepare herself for the homecoming of Leon?

6. What is the argument between Leon and Mah regarding the ashes of Ona after her death?

7. What is the advice that Soon-ping, a sewing lady, gives to Mah after the death of Ona?

8. Ona decides to jump from the 13th floor of the building, which confuses Leila. What is the meaning of the number 13?

9. To what does Leila compare the feeling of time rushing forward and then snapping still?

10. Things have changed after the affair. What are Leon and Mah like after the affair with Tommie Hom?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Leila seems to be the character who gets put into the middle of a number of situations in the story.

Part 1: Why do you think that Leila is often put into the middle of situations within this story?

Part 2: Is there another character in the story who might be a better mediator? Why or why not?

Part 3: Why is Leila resentful of being the one who has to mediate some situations?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

The battle of immigrants and those who wish to insult their race can be another constant strain on everyday life.

Part 1: Why do you think that racism still exists in the world today?

Part 2: How would you handle someone talking ill of another person of a difference race or background?

Part 3: Is racism ever legitimate? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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