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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When the Vietnamese soldiers kill everyone in the village by drawing them out with offers of free rice, why does Arn look at each dead person's face as he walks through the village?
(a) He is looking for any member of his family.
(b) He wants to see what expressions they had on their faces when they died.
(c) He wants to count how many males they killed versus how many males they killed.
(d) He doesn't know why he wants to look at their faces, but he does.

2. What happens the first time Arn shoots his gun?
(a) He is knocked off his feet by the force of the shot.
(b) He has a violent flashback of the boy in his village being hit with the butt of a rifle and killed.
(c) He shoots a Vietnamese soldier hiding among the trees.
(d) He accidentally shoots Kha, but it is only a superficial wound.

3. What happens the first time Arn plays volleyball?
(a) He spikes the ball over the net and scores a point for his team.
(b) He tucks into a crouch when the ball falls from the sky toward him.
(c) He sprains his ankle diving for the ball.
(d) He runs into another kid, bloodying both of their noses.

4. When Missus Gotobed warns the children that the refugee camp on the other side of the fence is dangerous, why does Arn still walk back and forth along the fence one day?
(a) He wants to look for any family or friends.
(b) He wants to see if he can spot any Khmer Rouge soldiers that he can plot to kill later.
(c) He wants to appear brave in the eyes of the other kids,
(d) He has heard that Sombo is in this refugee camp.

5. Who nurses Arn enough to bring him back to consciousness once he reaches Thailand?
(a) Siv, Kha, and Mek.
(b) Three boys from Little Fish with Big Sting.
(c) Arn's three older sisters.
(d) A group of three Thai girls.

6. After Arns separates from the other boys, he wants to get to Thailand. What is the only landmark he knows about that will signal him he's about to get to Thailand?
(a) He knows he will have to cross a river.
(b) He knows he will have to wade through a swamp.
(c) He knows he will have to cross a series of three bridges.
(d) He knows he will have to climb the tallest mountain of three peaks on the horizon.

7. When Arn has a touching moment with the baby monkey but then snaps its neck and wonders why he has done this terrible thing, what conclusion does he come to?
(a) He realizes that he did it because he hasn't killed anyone in a long time and has a thirst for killing.
(b) He realizes that he did it because he has to think about surviving every minute of every day.
(c) He realizes that he did it because he was hugging the monkey so hard that he didn't realize he was throttling it.
(d) He realizes that he did it because he saw the monkey having a good time with its family and he was jealous.

8. When his sister kisses Arn's ear, what is NOT something he says the sensation feels like?
(a) Angels.
(b) Rustling leaves.
(c) Heaven.
(d) Butterfly wings.

9. For the first few days in the hospital, Arn is given a certain food to keep him alive. What is that food?
(a) Yogurt.
(b) Guava fruit.
(c) Powdered milk.
(d) Honey.

10. Mek and Arn differ in their assessment of what their parting means. What are their two separate feelings about their separation?
(a) Mek feels certain they will see each other again, while Arn feels certain they will not.
(b) Mek feels the need to put on a brave face and pretend he is joyous despite their parting, while Arn cannot hide his grief and weeps.
(c) Arn feels the need to put on a brave face and pretend he is joyous despite their parting, while Mek cannot hide his grief and weeps.
(d) Arn feels certain they will see each other again, while Mek feels certain they will not.

11. What is the news being reported on the radio when Sombo quickly turns it off to prevent Arn from hearing?
(a) Everyone in Cambodia is fleeing to Thailand to escape the Khmer Rouge.
(b) Vietnamese soldiers are coming across the border to take over Cambodia by fighting the Khmer Rouge.
(c) The Khmer Rouge have taken over every major city and every small village in Cambodia.
(d) The rice fields in Cambodia are full of the joyful voices of peasants working in the fields.

12. The second time Arn joins the volleyball game, he plays skillfully and everyone claps. Why does he do so well at the game this time around?
(a) Because he has replaced the regular volleyball with a rubber ball that is easier to maneuver.
(b) Because he has asked Sojeat and Ravi ahead of time to set up some good plays for him to build from.
(c) Because he has been practicing all day every day and has even been sneaking out at night to practice.
(d) Because he has conditioned himself to control his fear of flying objects.

13. Using the method of time measurement that Arn and the other captives must use, eight harvests means he's been held captive for how long?
(a) 1 1/2 years.
(b) 3 years.
(c) 2 1/2 years.
(d) 5 years.

14. Why does Arn save most of the candy Mr. Pond gives him in order to give it to Sojeat and Ravi?
(a) He is made sick by the richness of the candy but doesn't want it to go to waste.
(b) He has learned how to give people things in hopes they will return favors later.
(c) He wants to be able to talk to someone else about how good the candy is.
(d) He wants Mr. Pond to know that he is not selfish.

15. When Arn becomes delirious with hunger, he sees the monkey family and then his own family and they chant words to him over and over. What are those words he hears them chant?
(a) "Peace be with you."
(b) "See you again."
(c) "Why didn't you save us."
(d) "Come for us soon."

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the name of the only other boy at the Children's Center who was formerly a child soldier besides Arn?

2. One time when Sombo's group passes another platoon in the woods, he recognizes that platoon's rice girl. Who is it?

3. What is Arn's reaction to seeing his sister again?

4. Why does Arn decide he wants to become good at volleyball once he sees this is the most popular game at the Children's Center?

5. Arn hears a voice coming through a bullhorn, telling the refugees that it's okay to come out and he waits for what he thinks is a trick to end in gunfire and moaning. Instead, he hears a different sound. What is it?

(see the answer keys)

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