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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. Who is the oldest of Bui's sisters?

2. Thi states that her parents had escaped from Vietnam by using what form of transport?

3. Bui tells Nguyen that she had gotten good grades and taken what other action in order to get scholarships?

4. In what city do Thi's memories of Bo "live" (64)?

5. Thi states in Chapter 2 that she has "figured out, more or less, how to" (29) take what action in regard to her "little family" (29)?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. How does the doctor respond to Thi's question about her child's birth?

5. What are the qualities of Thi's memories about her childhood home in San Diego?

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

7. What is one element of Ma's parenting that Bui depicts as being different for each one of her children?

8. What event causes a very young Bo to mentally disown his father?

9. How does Bui use visual elements to underscore her feelings about the doctor's answer to her question in the hospital?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the resolution stage of The Best We Could Do and write about its overall meaning within the text. How does Bui make connections between the resolution and the text’s major thematic messages?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the characterization methods used by Bui in depicting her father Bo and include in your discussion the reasons that Bui portrays Bo in these particular ways.

Essay Topic 3

How is the role of motherhood treated within The Best We Could Do and how does its treatment relate to the memoir's depicted messages?

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