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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 old was Trieu when she finally met her birth father?

2. What dreams did Andrew's parents have for him before moving to America?

3. What animal did Andrew inadvertently kill in a cycling accident in Hanoi?

4. Why didn't Andrew have his original travel documents with him when the police questioned him on the boxcar?

5. Which of the following Vietnamese phrases translates to "Vietnamese-American"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What argument broke out at the Pham family's memorial to their Grandfather?

2. What regrets did Andrew's father carry with him throughout his adult life?

3. Why did Chi make the decision to move to San Francisco?

4. How did the Nguyen family say goodbye to Andrew when it was time for him to return to America?

5. Why was Andrew's father arrested when he was a teenager?

6. What interaction did Andrew have with the one-legged cyclist in Ky An?

7. What did Andrew and Chi talk about during their last conversation, before Chi killed herself?

8. What trouble did Andrew get into in Vietnam for drinking Coca-Cola?

9. Which of Andrew's siblings were gay, and how did his family react to this?

10. What happened when the police stopped Andrew on the cargo train to Hanoi?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the main reasons Andrew decided to make his bicycle trek through Vietnam was to escape his life in America. First, describe Andrew's professional and private life in America at the time when he set out for his journey. What did Andrew hope to gain from his travel experiences? In your opinion, was Andrew's travel through Vietnam a success? How can you tell? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the memoir, Andrew offers many different symbols to bring meaning to the people of Vietnam and their experiences, including the famous ruins and the gape fish. Choose one of these symbols - or another that you deem fit - and explain the symbol here. Where did Andrew first encounter this symbol? What understanding did Andrew believe the message brought to him about the Vietnamese people? Do you agree with Andrew's assessment? Why or why not? 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.

(see the answer keys)

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