View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is in the bag Mother obtains?

2. What is Mother's religion?

3. After Captain Narita says that he wants to take away the workers to be Spirit Girls, what does Mother do?

4. Whose life does Captain Narita threaten?

5. What does Captain Narita do to punish Grandfather?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Grandfather used to wear, and why did he have to get rid of it?

2. Why does Sookan wonder if the Japanese have god-like powers?

3. Describe the setting of "Year of Impossible Goodbyes."

4. How does Mother obtain gifts and food for Haiwon's party?

5. Why is Sookan expelled from school?

6. Who is the first person to ever beat Sookan and why?

7. What happens when Captain Narita finds the family having a birthday party?

8. After Grandfather's death, why does Sookan feel that she is being punished and by who?

9. What does the family do for Haiwon's birthday?

10. How does Sookan try to cheer up Inchun after the pine tree is cut down?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain Korean history as it relates to the setting and story of "Year of Impossible Goodbyes."

Essay Topic 2

Explain Sookan and Inchun's journey from Pyongyang to Seoul and the dangers therein.

Essay Topic 3

Explore and discuss examples of social class divisions within the text, being sure to touch upon:

A) Race.

B) Politics.

C) Prominence and wealth.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 572 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample