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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. Why did May Ying refuse to do what concubines were expected to do?

2. Why did May Ying prefer Mah Jong to other gambling methods?

3. Why was Sam able to save so much money?

4. Where did Sam take May Ying to dinner when they first met?

5. What did Sam work on when he got to China after leaving Hing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What were Guen's stipulations for giving money to May Ying?

2. Why did May Ying tell Sam to return to China?

3. Why did Hing write letters to Huangbo?

4. What made May Ying feel jealous when Huangbo had a son?

5. How was May Ying able to pay for Sam's return trip to Canada?

6. What led May Ying and Huang to stop bickering and become friends?

7. What kept Sam from returning home to China when he was out of work?

8. What did Sam do to try and keep in contact with Hing?

9. What did families in Canada all have that May Ying liked?

10. What happened to Hing when May Ying had some friends visiting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why was education so important to Hing, and what affect did this importance have on her mothering?

Essay Topic 2

Each of the Chong siblings had very different characteristics and personalities. What are the defining features of each of the siblings, and how did their individuality affect the course of the plot?

Essay Topic 3

Anger was a vice that reared its ugly head a number of times in this book. What are some examples of this, and how was the plot altered because of these incidents?

(see the answer keys)

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