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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. Lan had moved out of the family home due to problems with whom?

2. Bo recalls how in the midst of starvation, his mother had sometimes been able to buy a small piece of what type of meat to share only with Bo?

3. Chapter 3 begins in what location?

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

5. Ma alleges that Bo had been taking what action during the birth of one of their children?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. What question does Thi ask the doctor when she is in labor with her child?

8. What food always brings comfort to Thi and why?

9. What lesson does Thi learn through undertaking a major change in 2006?

10. As a young child, Thi imagines the lights of the cars on the highway as what other objects?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of The Best We Could Do and analyze Bui’s purpose for including each instance you discuss.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss how and why Bui instills three different humanist messages into the narrative of The Best We Could Do.

Essay Topic 3

Explicate the theme of grief within The Best We Could Do. What is Bui’s message regarding grief and how do you know?

(see the answer keys)

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