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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. Where does Xiaolei go on her day off after keeping the handsome man's item?

2. What do Cao Cao's business cards say?

3. Why does the narrator get angry sometimes when he thinks of Lisette and Perry, and of Lisette's leaving?

4. Who is the village's party secretary?

5. What is the name of Cao Cao's village?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Anning's strongest memory of the time when she and Cao Cao got married?

2. How does Lisette treat the narrator in the story "On the Street Where You Live"?

3. In "Flying Machine," what does Cao Cao have a talent for?

4. Why does Xiaolei get in an altercation with the handsome customer's wife?

5. What does Perry mistakenly think the narrator has done with Lisette?

6. In "Land of Big Numbers," why is Zhu Feng jealous of Li?

7. In "Flying Machine," how do Cao Cao's efforts to win over the local Communist Party work out?

8. What is one sacrifice Cao Cao makes to please the local Communist leader every season?

9. Why does Xiaolei become obsessed with the pen for years after losing it?

10. What does Perry ask for that he thinks might help find Lisette, and why will the narrator not give it to him at first?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does the narrator decide to stay with her boyfriend Eric in the story titled "Beautiful Country" even though she doubts his fidelity? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think the narrator really kills Perry in the story "On the Street Where You Live," and how does the narrator feel about his actions afterwards? What does Chen communicate to the reader about the relationship between regret, guilt, and anger in this story? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

How would you describe Chen's tone and language throughout this collection? What specific feelings and ideas do you think Chen attempts to communicate through her characters to the reader, and how does the specific language she uses throughout the collection enhance them? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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