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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 does Arn do with the lump of sugar the kitchen girl gives him after she is done with him?

2. What is the event that first causes Arn to think maybe the Khmer Rouge have evil intentions?

3. How does Arn describe the monks at the temple school?

4. How old is Arn when the novel's narrative first begins?

5. Sophea brings news that someone in Arn's family has died while calling out for him. Who is it?

Short Essay Questions

1. After Arn is chosen by Khmer Rouge leaders to play music in their band, Arn sees there are positive results and negative results of his being chosen. What are they and what does this show about one's fate under the rule of the Khmer Rouge?

2. When Arn's curiosity gets the better of him and he finally asks Sombo the reason for his permissiveness concerning Arn's behavior, what reasoning does Sombo provide and what is the author's purpose in portraying Sombo's character in this particular way?

3. Though at first, the villagers think that the jeeps and trucks pouring into the village is a good sign and means that the war is over, what is the first thing that happens to make Arn realize that the opposite is true?

4. When Arn sneaks out to tell Mek about the soldier who forced him to cook the liver of a murdered captive, he is caught by a soldier but does not suffer the dire consequences he is expecting. What happens instead and what significance does it hold for Arn?

5. What is the significance of the escape from camp by the boy from Arn's village?

6. Before the arrival of the Khmer Rouge in his village, how does Arn feel about the war he knows is being fought outside his town and what does he spend most of his time doing?

7. What is the author's purpose in including the character of the five-year-old child whom Arn finds feasting on the flesh of the dead?

8. What do Arn and his little brother Munny do after they sneak in to see the American movie and what happens to make them hide?

9. What ploy do the Khmer Rouge use to get the government soldiers to come to the airport and what happens once they arrive?

10. What happens to the pregnant woman and her husband who are walking next to Arn within the mass exodus of all cities? What lesson does Arn learn from seeing what happens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Though at the start of the novel, Arn enjoys communing with nature, whether he is frogging with Hong or playing in the fields with other friends, as the narrative progresses, his feelings about nature and the earth begin to change. Trace the changes surrounding the author's presentation of the earth motif and analyze the effect of these changes on the reader.

Essay Topic 2

The theme of power is one that comes up over and over within the novel's narrative, particularly in relation to Arn's feelings of powerlessness and realizations about power he does indeed hold. Choose three instances when Arn realizes that he does, indeed, carry power, even within his dire situation. Discuss how these realizations help to shape the author's message regarding power.

Essay Topic 3

The novel is littered with the use of sensory details throughout the narrative. Discuss the author's purpose in including the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and tactile sensations of Arn's experiences.

(see the answer keys)

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