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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 does Anh Phuoc say the Communists are skilled at based on his experience fighting and in re-education camps?

2. What reason does Mahmoud give to Sarah for why the man in the procession cut his head?

3. Why does Mai sleep for two days on the boat?

4. What did Mai’s uncle make her memorize in Rach Gia in case she was ever questioned?

5. Who is Sarah sitting on a hotel bed with at the end of “Tehran Calling”?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the issues Parvin expresses to Sarah that she has with her activist group and their constant meetings?

2. What does Quyen tell Mai about where her husband is?

3. What does Sarah learn about Parvin’s past life in Iran before leaving for Europe?

4. What does Mai notice is unusual about Quyen and Truong’s relationship on the boat?

5. Why is Sarah surprised by Parvin’s passion for women’s rights in Iran?

6. What happens to Truong on the 13th day when they finally see land ahead?

7. Where is Mayako at the beginning of “Hirsoshima” and what is she doing with the other girls per Mrs. Sasaki’s orders?

8. What is going on the week Sarah arrived in Iran, which Mahmoud tells her is their holiest week?

9. What games do the children play when they play outside together, which leaves some of them weeping?

10. What does Quyen tell Mai she was going to ask Mai to do when they arrive on land to give her time to tell her husband about Truong?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing how Jamie and his father’s relationship changes over the course of “Halflead Bay.”

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing Mai and Quyen’s relationship in “The Boat.” What are the circumstances under which they met? What is their connection? In what ways does this connection change over the course of the story?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing Nam Le’s use of flashbacks at least two of his short stories. Discuss how these flashback’s impact the reader’s experience and whether you think they are effective. Be sure to include direct examples from the text to support your argument.

(see the answer keys)

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