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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 is Teacher Zhang sometimes bitter?

2. What news does Li-yan get from Teacher Zhang?

3. What type of love songs do the Akha sing?

4. What does San-pa's mother give Li-yan to symbolize her acceptance?

5. According to Akha superstition, what should men do once their wives are five months pregnant?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are men not allowed to see their wives giving birth?

2. Why are Li-yan and San-pa going to Thailand to live instead of staying in China?

3. Why does San-pa blame Li-yan for their situation in Thailand?

4. What taboo act does San-pa commit when leaving Li-yan's village?

5. What charms did A-ma give to Li-yan and why?

6. When Li-yan discovers she is pregnant, what is the first thing she does?

7. Li-yan lies about the dog in her dream. What does the dog on the roof really signify?

8. To whom does the term 'human rejects' refer?

9. Identify three superstitions and how they affect Akha life in the village.

10. What is the gaokao?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In A Dog On The Roof, the reader learns about the Akha people and their beliefs. What does the aphorism, "No coincidence, no story," (3) infer about the tribe's cultural traditions? What are the coincidences in Part I? Are they believable?

Essay Topic 2

On the first page of the chapter, A Drinkable Antique, the reader finds out how drastically Li-yan's physical appearance has changed in the eight years she has been in Kunming (165). What social, emotional, or psychological changes do you think she has experienced in addition to the physical changes?

Essay Topic 3

For months, Li-yan dreamed of being married to San-pa. When they are finally married, does their actual marriage live up to her dreams and expectations? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 655 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample