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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 name does she call the white dog from the neighborhood?

2. Who are Que and Hang greeted by when they visit Aunt Tam?

3. Where does Hang's Uncle Chinh live?

4. How old was Hang's grandfather when he died?

5. Uncle Chinh tells Que what lie?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Aunt Tam dislike Chinh?

2. What was a typical breakfast for Hang?

3. Why is Hang yelled out my a girl named Thu's mother?

4. Why does Uncle Chinh find Que a job at the Red River Food Factory?

5. Describe Hang's first meeting with Aunt Tam.

6. Describe the fate of Ton's sister and mother during this time.

7. Why does a mob come to Que's house to attack her?

8. Describe Ton and Que's meeting.

9. What happens when a tavern is built in their neighborhood?

10. According to Chinh, why is Ton's family considered an enemy of the country?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hang struggles during her childhood with her identity as a fatherless child. When Que finally tells her the story of Ton, Hang is reassured by the fact that she was conceived in love. How does this knowledge change Hang's outlook? Why do you think that information is capable of affecting Hang so profoundly? Why is it so important to Hang?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Hang says Que and Aunt Tam were both stuck in the past. In what ways are they the same? Do their different ways of coping result in different outcomes? Is there a good way to be stuck in the past?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 689 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample