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1. What are the two lucky numbers for the characters in names that Frank discusses in "Before We Begin," and what tradition does this belief come from?

The two lucky numbers for the characters in names that Frank discusses in "Before We Begin" are 7 and 9. At first Frank thinks the number of characters is a Korean tradition, but then he realizes it just seems to be a tradition that his parents and their friends favor for their children, independent of Korean tradition.

2. What does the term brainlock mean to Frank and Hanna?

The term brainlock is like a headlock for your mind, and it is a phrase Frank's sister Hanna coined for the pressures and ideals their parents have sometimes placed on both of them.

3. Why is Frank's sister Hanna exiled from the Li family?

Frank's sister Hanna is exiled from the Li family because she dated, and then married, a black man whom their parents disapproved of on the basis of his race.

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