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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. How did Andrew's family say goodbye to him when he left home to start his new cycling adventure?

2. Which area of Vietnam is known as "the fish sauce capital of the world"?

3. When Thong was drafted into the Vietnamese army, what did he hope would earn him a good post?

4. How did Chi die?

5. What denomination church sponsored the Pham family's immigration to America?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Andrew remember most acutely about his Grandfather Pham?

2. After returning to California from Mexico, where did Andrew live?

3. What uncomfortable event transpired between Andrew and Viet at Turtle Fountain?

4. What personal history did Hung have with America?

5. What expectations did Andrew's family have of him when he arrived in Saigon?

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

7. What was the first conversation Andrew had with Tyle?

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

9. What memories did Andrew recount when he took a cup of tea to the roof of the Nguyen's house?

10. What conflicts did Andrew face in American school after immigrating from Vietnam?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the opening of the memoir, it becomes clear that Andrew Pham is trapped between two cultures: his Vietnamese culture and his American culture. How does this struggle affect Andrew's personal history? How does this struggle inform the overarching themes of the novel? Choose two examples from the text that you think best exhibit Andrew's struggle and describe them here. How did these instances affect Andrew's personal understanding of himself?

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

Andrew's journey to Vietnam represents a strong emotional journey for him as an individual. First, describe why Andrew chose to make this journey in the first place. What was he hoping to accomplish during this trip? At the end of the memoir, do you think his journey was a success? Why or why not? In what ways did this journey change his life back in the States? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

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