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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. What special characteristic did the 10-year-old boy selling rice cakes in Hanoi have?

2. Growing up, what did Chi use to bind her breasts?

3. Which of the following was NOT a language the laughing old woman in the sea used in an attempt to communicate with Andrew?

4. Where did Andrew's father tape the newspaper article that he saved for over a decade?

5. What did the Nguyen family want to give Andrew as his leaving present before returning to America?

Short Essay Questions

1. What moral did Andrew reach while swimming in the sea with a laughing, old woman?

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

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

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

5. What aspect of her life brought Chi the greatest amount of stress and sadness?

6. What two images does Andrew encounter that he believes are perfect symbols for the people of Japan?

7. How did Chi's life change during her fourteen years on the streets?

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

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

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

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

Throughout the memoir, Andrew utilized almost every different mode of travel available. First, create a list of transportation methods Andrew used during his journey. Then, choose two modes of transportation and compare / contrast the experience of these travels, particularly when considering Andrew's historic quest for answers. In your opinion, what mode of transportation was most beneficial for Andrew, given his unique travel desires? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

When Andrew and his family moved to America, Andrew's life was suddenly overwhelmed with two characteristics: religion and violence. First, describe how these two elements were introduced into Andrew's life upon moving to America. Then, explain what symbolism can be found in these two elements when considering the stereotypes of American life to foreigners. If Andrew were to move to America today, do you think his experiences would be the same? Why or why not? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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