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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 is one way that helped Joe's mother learn English?

2. What religion does Joe's mother believe in?

3. What does Joe's high school girlfriend study in college?

4. How does Schuyler describe Maribel when she has been drinking?

5. What type of car hits Schuyler?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the narrative structure throughout the novel?

2. How is Veronica described when Joe discusses Veronica's family and her growing up in Queens?

3. After Gil suffers from a second stroke, where does he go and who takes care of him?

4. Describe the family's first encounter with Nok and her family in Queens.

5. What originally happens to Schuyler's money after he is killed?

6. After Ethan phones his mother to say Gil probably missed her, how does Abby react?

7. What does Maribel say she gets out of her relationship with Schuyler?

8. How does the structure of the novel help readers understand the secrets to happiness?

9. At the beginning of Chapter 2, how can Joe's relationship with his high school girlfriend, Veronica, be described?

10. After Schuyler dies, what scary dream does Veronica dream about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Growing up, Ethan's father often traveled to Thailand, and many other Asian countries, for work. Travel is a prominent theme throughout the novel. Select 2-3 characters from the novel and explain how travel affected their relationships with themselves, family members, and romantic partners.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing Nok's relationship with money in the novel. Why does she tell her sons that they are lucky? How and why does money equate to luck?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining what you think the meaning of life and the secrets to happiness are based on your analysis of 2-3 characters from the novel. Use their understanding about happiness to challenge or build upon your own ideas about life and happiness.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 962 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample