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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is Travis?
(a) Bui's father.
(b) Bui's nephew.
(c) Bui's husband.
(d) Bui's uncle.

2. What sort of merchant had poisoned the waters near Bo's boyhood home?
(a) A fisherman.
(b) A fabric dyer.
(c) A cook.
(d) A washerwoman.

3. Chapter 1, entitled "Labor," takes place in what location?
(a) San Francisco.
(b) Miami.
(c) New York.
(d) San Diego.

4. In what California city was the high school Bui helped to open?
(a) Los Angeles.
(b) San Francisco.
(c) Oakland.
(d) Sacramento.

5. Who is the oldest of Bui's sisters?
(a) Lan.
(b) Bo.
(c) Bich.
(d) Thanh.

Short Answer Questions

1. Thi describes the city of Hai Phong by using what noun?

2. When the nurse brings in a tray of surgical instruments, Bui feels her heart take what action?

3. Once all of Thi's family lives in the same state, where does Ma live?

4. Bui names Viet Thanh Nguyen as the winner of what sort of award?

5. What is the earliest date included on the visual timeline of Vietnam's history that Bui includes before Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. What major change do Thi and Travis undertake in 2006 and why?

2. Describe two different methods Thi uses to address her problems with Bo.

3. What is the strongest emotion Thi feels toward Bo toward the end of her adolescence?

4. Describe Thi's expression in the panel depicting her reaction to Bo's dangerous behavior.

5. What behavior of Ma's disappoints Thi in the memoir's opening scene?

6. What sort of tone does Bui use to describe Bo's parenting style?

7. In what time and place does the opening scene of The Best We Could Do begin?

8. For what reason is Bo unable to teach in the United States, though he had taught in Vietnam?

9. For what purpose are allusions to heaven and hell included in Chapter 3?

10. What dangerous action does Bo take regularly throughout Thi's childhood?

(see the answer keys)

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