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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. After the tragedy, Arn goes to see the Khmer Rouge soldier boy who has told Arn and the other Little Fish that they are not real soldiers. What does he do before he goes to see this boy?

2. Why does Arn save most of the candy Mr. Pond gives him in order to give it to Sojeat and Ravi?

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

4. What is the news being reported on the radio when Sombo quickly turns it off to prevent Arn from hearing?

5. What happens the first time Arn shoots his gun?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

3. 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?

4. When the Khmer Rouge put Arn and 19 other boys into a platoon they call Little Fish with the Big Sting, what thought of Arn's acts as foreshadowing for the coming carnage?

5. 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?

6. Describe the parting of Arn and Mek. What is its significance within the course of the narrative?

7. When the leader allows Arn to ride his white horse to a neighboring camp to deliver a letter, why does Arn not run away?

8. Why do Arn, Siv, and Kha kick dirt over their excrement after they eat the sweet potato Arn brings back from the leader's house?

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The first mention of revolution in the novel occurs on page 24 when a Khmer Rouge soldier mentions it and Arn tells the reader he has not heard the word before. There are many different types of revolution, including social revolutions and personal revolutions. Compare and contrast the revolution undertaken by the Khmer Rouge with the personal revolution Arn experiences by the end of the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Within the novel, the manipulation of language in order to shift people's perspectives is a common theme, both in Arn's case, as when he questions the difference between a "bribe" and a "gift" (8) and in the case of the Khmer Rouge soldiers, as when they ban the use of the word "sleep," instead ordering that only the word "rest" (82) be used. Discuss the theme of language manipulation throughout the novel and relate it to manipulation of language within modern politics.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the significance of the novel's title and of the repeated references to it throughout the novel. What is the author's purpose in including the theme of "never falling down," both in the title and throughout the narrative of the novel?

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