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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 Chapter 34, who comforts Mia after her fight with her mother?

2. Who gives Mia a dictionary/thesaurus to borrow?

3. What does Lupe say about Mia's plan to move to Vermont that surprises Mia?

4. What does Mia say is the result of her moving schools so many times?

5. What does Xiao mean in Chinese?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 33, what does Mia's mother tell her about her love for English that is deeply hurtful to her?

2. Why does Mia briefly stand in front of a mirror with a banana peel on her head?

3. What does the blue hat at the front desk mean?

4. How does Mia help Uncle Zhang with his problem with his employer?

5. Why does Hank say he can stay at the motel even though he has fallen behind in his payments?

6. What happens to Mia's family when they take her mother to the emergency room?

7. What does Lupe scribble on a guest comment card for her friend Mia?

8. How does Mr. Yao handle Hank's refusal to leave?

9. Why does Mia need $300 in Part III?

10. Who stands up for Mia's family in the emergency room?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does hearing from their friends and former co-workers who are also Chinese immigrants in America during their brief stays at the Calivista affect Mia's and her parents' understanding about their own potential prospects and opportunities in the U.S.? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

What do readers learn from Yang's extensive Author's Note at the end of this novel? How does reading the Author's Note potentially affect a reader's understanding of the novel and some of its major themes? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does Mia's experience with gaining, and then immediately losing, the chocolate notebook in Mrs. Fletcher's class affect her attitudes and feelings about her own abilities and about school going forward? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

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