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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. Soon after they return, Que announces who is visiting?

2. How long does Ton's journey last?

3. What role has Chinh been promoted to?

4. How old was Hang when she visited her father's house the only time?

5. Which of the following is not part of Hang's typical breakfast?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to Aunt Tam during land reform?

2. Why does Que finally tell Hang about her father?

3. How does Ton win the respect of the people in his new village?

4. Why is Hang disturbed by seeing an old street vendor with dirty feet?

5. What is the significance of the song Hang's roommate plays on the record player?

6. Why does Ton flee the village?

7. What does their neighbor Vi say about Chinh?

8. Why does Que leave the village?

9. What was a typical breakfast for Hang?

10. Why does Aunt Tam dislike Chinh?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Aunt Tam notes that Ton left the village (and Hang's mother) and killed himself because he could endure anything but shame. Discuss the merits of pride. Is pride a positive or negative attribute of a person? In Ton's case, what other solutions might he have explored while still maintaining a sense of pride?

Essay Topic 2

At the end of the book, Hang decides to sell Aunt Tam's house and leave the past crimes and their sad legacy behind. She envisions a different world, larger than the small village of her ancestors Do you think Hang made the right decision? What would you have done in Hang's situation? Why?

Essay Topic 3

At the start of the book, Hang goes to visit her sick uncle, even when she is not feeling well herself, because of a strong sense of familial obligation. At the end of the book, Hang decides to sell her Aunt Tam's house and leave behind "crimes of the past" and an unhappy legacy. Does her decision to sell the house contradict her sense of familial obligation? Has Hang changed over the course of the book? In what ways? Cite specific examples.

(see the answer keys)

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