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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. In "Not Even," what does the woman on the train bring to the speaker?

2. In "Not Even," why does a young woman once tell the speaker he is "lucky"?

3. In "Reasons for Staying," what does the speaker's mother apply before heading to chemo?

4. In "Amazon History of a Former Nail Salon Worker," what purchase does the worker make that seems to be in anticipation of her death?

5. In "Reasons for Staying," what keeps burning in California?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Scavengers," who is the speaker with and in what context?

2. In "Amazon History of a Former Nail Salon Worker," what does the reader learn about the speaker's mother?

3. In "Scavengers," what kind of imagery does the speaker use?

4. Who does the speaker wish to communicate with in "No One Knows the Way to Heaven"?

5. In "Nothing," what story about Peter's grandmother does the speaker recount?

6. In "Not Even," what does a young woman tell the speaker that the speaker finds offensive?

7. What does the speaker imply but not directly state in "Tell Me Something Good"?

8. Where does the speaker in "The Punctum" visit?

9. What does the speaker do with Peter in "Nothing"?

10. In "The Punctum," what does the tour guide say that historians have done?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Vuong address the act and topic of forgiveness throughout the collection? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Which specific aspects of childhood and adolescence does Vuong treat throughout this collection? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does the speaker describe his personal problems with drug addiction? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

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