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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. How did Huy's family react to the news that Huy was gay?

2. Who was Andrew pretending to hide from underneath the dining room table?

3. How often did the Pham family visit the beach in California?

4. What name did Chi use during her years on the street?

5. From what did the Buddhist monk predict Chi would die?

Short Essay Questions

1. What regrets did Andrew's father carry with him throughout his adult life?

2. What argument broke out at the Pham family's memorial to their Grandfather?

3. What memories does Andrew have about the way his family made money in Vietnam?

4. What opinion did the American Vietnam War vet, whom Andrew met in a coffee shop, have about the War?

5. Why did Chi make the decision to move to San Francisco?

6. How did the Nguyen family say goodbye to Andrew when it was time for him to return to America?

7. How did Chi's life change during her fourteen years on the streets?

8. Which of Andrew's siblings were gay, and how did his family react to this?

9. When was Andrew first introduced to adult sexuality?

10. Why was Andrew's father arrested when he was a teenager?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Prostitution was a large part of the Pham family's past and is therefore very present in the novel. First, describe the Pham family's involvement in prostitution and discuss their motivations, as a family, for getting involved in this business. Then, describe how this background shaped Andrew into the adult he is now. In your opinion, is this memoir justifying the Asian sex-trade? Why or why not? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout his childhood, Andrew had various experiences with American soldiers during the Vietnam War. First, choose two significant experiences Andrew had with American soldiers and describe them here. Then, describe how Andrew's experiences with American soldiers during the war helped to shape his view of America before he moved there? What expectations did Andrew have of America before moving there? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Although he did his best to support his family, Andrew's father was riddled with guilt and regrets as he aged. First, choose two behaviors / events / emotions that Andrew's father regrets and describe them here. Then, using the previous examples, explain how one person's regret can affect and shape and entire family. How was this the case within the Pham family? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

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