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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. Why did Andrew give money to the beggar woman in the Red Light District?

2. To what city did Andrew's mother's friend try to convince the family to run away?

3. What holiday was the first "American" holiday celebrated by the Pham family in America?

4. What type of school did Andrew attend when he was a child?

5. What was the name of the intersection Andrew visited in the Red Light District of Vietnam?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who was Patty?

2. What happened to Andrew when the Indonesian freighter intercepted the fishing boat?

3. What major events did Andrew struggle through once he reached Japan?

4. What did Andrew do on his first morning in Saigon after being reunited with his family?

5. What ties did Andrew's family have to Phan Thiet?

6. What was Andrew's first impression of Mihn Luong Prison when he arrived?

7. What was Andrew's reaction to seeing his grandmother's old house in Phan Tiet, his childhood home?

8. With whom did Andrew spend his time while he was staying in Vung Tao?

9. Who was the first of the Phen children to die?

10. What happened to Andrew while on the bus headed toward Mihn Luong Prison?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the memoir, it becomes clear that appearances are very important. First, describe how appearances are important in America, and compare / contrast that to how appearances are important in Vietnam. Then, choose one person from the memoir whom you think was most affected by societies expectations for appearance, and explain how those expectations affected the person's life. Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

All of Andrew's siblings live/d lives that involve some level of sexual deviance. What events from their upbringing do you think psychologically prompted these behaviors. Had the Pham children grown up in a more stable household, do you think the children's lives would be different as adults? If so, how? If not, why? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout her life, it was clear that Chi did not feel comfortable in her own skin. First, describe how this awkwardness and discomfort affect Chi in childhood, during her teenage years, and finally, in adulthood. What element of conflict do you think most ruled Chi's life - her conflict with society, her conflict with her family, or her conflict with herself? How can you tell? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

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