View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How much is Mei Ling paid for three caps and two runners directly from the owner who sells them at his store?

2. How much does Mei Ling get paid for four caps in Chapter 16?

3. How old is Joy in Chapter 17?

4. In Chapter 16, what does Mei Ling buy at the meat market on her first outing with Joy?

5. In Chapter 11, what time will June's boat leave?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Mei Ling suggest that they move closer to Kai Li's job at the produce market, and what is his response?

2. In Chapter 11, how does Mei Ling make plans for Siew's future?

3. What is Kai Li's story in Chapter 20?

4. What does Mei Ling say when the inspector says Kai Li answered a question differently than Mei Ling?

5. What dream does Kai Li have and why can he not fulfil it in Chapter 17?

6. What does Siew ask when Mei Ling is praying with her Quan Yin?

7. What problem does Mei Ling have finding her trunk in Chapter 13?

8. At the end of Chapter 13, why does Mei Ling want to take a walk outside by herself?

9. How does Mei Ling start making some extra money in Chapter 16?

10. In Chapter 14, when does Mei Ling receive a letter from her family, and what news does she learn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Some elements in the book are taken from historical information. What elements in the book are based upon historical information? How does the author imitate real life in the book?

Essay Topic 2

Mei Ling’s family used to live in Guangzhou. Why did Mei Ling’s family move to their ancestral village? What role did war and politics play in the move?

Essay Topic 3

In the novel, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the story line? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,015 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample