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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 does Arn describe the Cambodian villages they come upon that are still left standing?

2. The group of child soldiers led by Sombo and referred to as Little Fish with the Big Sting is comprised of how many children?

3. What event causes Arn to question whether Sombo is still his friend or not?

4. When Arn finds Sophea lying motionless, he considers killing her to save her from rape, from murder at another's hands, or from being eaten by wild animals. He doesn't, instead choosing to take what action?

5. 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?

Short Essay Questions

1. After Sombo leaves the group to take Koong to a Thai hospital, the kids all argue about which they should go. Arn goes in the opposite direction and they see, but do not care. What reason does Arn give for their apathy?

2. What new privileges does Arn receive while acting as the leader's assistant of sorts and what feelings do these new privileges inspire in him?

3. Why does Arn turn over all of the dead bodies of the villagers to look into their faces?

4. When Arn hears the conflicting reports on Sombo's radio, with the Voice of Angka saying that a victory for the Khmer Rouge is imminent and the American station saying that the Vietnamese are in control of the East and are taking more land every day, Arn doesn't know which report to believe. He does, though, hold on to one fact that he hears. What is that fact and why does he choose to keep it in mind?

5. When Arn determines that he has been away from his home village for two and a half years, how does he reach this conclusion?

6. For what reasons does Arn choose Sojeat and Ravi as his two favorites when Mr. Pond asks him for two names?

7. Once Arn wakes up from being nursed back to health by the three girls in Thailand, how does the motif of sound come into play?

8. What words does the dying lady in the village spit at Arn and why do her words hurt him so much?

9. Why does Arn distrust the radio reports he hears at the hospital?

10. The theme of fame arises once again when the leader with the white shorts notices Arn due to the attention he has gotten for his music and dancing, so he tells Arn to come to his house to entertain at his party. What message is being sent about fame in this scene?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Desensitization is a coping mechanism Arn uses often in order to retain his sanity in the midst of the horrors all around him. Describe and analyze three of these instances and use them to explain how the author uses them to help the reader keep rooting for Arn even though at times he commits atrocities that in normal circumstances would seem unforgivable.

Essay Topic 2

Deception is a theme that shows up often, beginning with the Khmer Rouge's tricking of the citizens in Arn's village and leading to their murders by the regime. Develop a claim stating the author's message regarding deception and prove your claim with at least three instances of deception within the novel.

Essay Topic 3

After his forced separation from his family, Arn builds many relationships with others that resemble family relationships. Choose three characters with whom Arn builds these familial relationships, describe the circumstances surrounding the bonds he forms with these characters, and discuss how these relationships fuel the author's message about the definition of family.

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