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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. From whom does Brave Orchid buy her slave girl?

2. What do the villagers admire Maxine's mother for when she first returns from medical school?

3. What does Maxine's mother think has poisoned her?

4. What gift does Moon Orchid bring from Lovely Orchid?

5. What is one thing Moon Orchid learns to do at the laundry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Moon Orchid's character plays a significant role in the novel, specifically in the section "At the Western Palace." Answer the following questions about her character and role in the story.

Part 1) Do you think Moon Orchid is happier in America than she was in China? Explain why or why not.

Part 2) Why do you think the narrator includes Moon Orchid's story in the novel?

Part 3) What type of impact do you think Moon Orchid's story had on the narrator? What might the narrator have learned from watching her aunt?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, there are many ghosts, imaginary beings and legendary characters in the narrator's mother's stories and the narrator's accounts of different stories. Choose three of these creatures and answer the following questions about each.

1) What story is this character a part of? What role does it have in the story?

2) What might the character symbolize?

3) How does the inclusion of this character impact the story?

4) How does the narrator feel about this character? Do you think the narrator believes it is real or imaginary?

Essay Topic 3

What are some of the battles the narrator feels she must take on as a woman warrior? Describe at least three, and explain how these goals impact the narrator's life.

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