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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. Where did Lucky say he was going later in the day as he had brunch with Tiller in Chapter 19?

2. Who wrote and performed "Tiny Dancer"?

3. What is Tiller's Chinese Zodiac sign?

4. To whom does Tiller compare Mr. Kappagoda's appearance in Chapter 13?

5. Who is the jamu master that created the concoctions for Pong's company?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Chilies and how is he described?

2. What uncomfortable encounter does Tiller describe involving Lucky's mother in Chapter 12?

3. What is said of Tiller's Chinese zodiac sign in Chapter 12?

4. What story did Pong tell Tiller in Chapter 18?

5. How is the setting of Evergreen Shores described?

6. What did Constance do to Tiller after he ate the candies?

7. How old was Tiller when his mother left? How does he describe her leaving?

8. How is Tiller's performance at the karaoke club described in Chapter 14?

9. How does Tiller describe Drum Kappagoda upon their first meeting?

10. How would you characterize Tiller's relationship with his father?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the timeline of events and narrative structure in My Year Abroad. How does the author distinguish between the different timelines in the novel? What are the main timelines? What stories step beyond those timelines? How does this structure lend itself to the story? How does it create tension?

Essay Topic 2

Identify and discuss three examples of imagery in the novel. What different literary devices comprise imagery? How are they employed in this narrative? How extensive are the author's depictions of imagery throughout the book?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Val in My Year Abroad. If Val were considered a symbol, what would she represent? What are Val's motivations in the novel? How does Val change in the course of the story?

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