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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. Hang associates the house with what?

2. Hang hears what animal being slaughtered for her celebration?

3. What does Hang's mother do in the evenings while Hang studies?

4. What is Que's occupation since the accident?

5. Aunt Tam says that Madame Dua's husband left because of which of her characteristics?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is Hang's acceptance into university a cause for celebration?

2. What realization does Hang have while staying at her Aunt's house before a celebration for Hang's acceptance into school?

3. What was Chinh's reaction to Que's accident?

4. Descrive Hang's feelings toward the color purple.

5. What is the story Aunt Tam tells about an honest minister?

6. Who is waiting for Hang and what does he want?

7. What is Hang's relationship with her male traveling companion?

8. Why has Chinh summoned her?

9. Describe the apartment Uncle Chinh has been staying at.

10. Describe the English artist's paintings.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hang makes a decision to not be like her mom and aunt - stuck in the past. Should one ignore the past when moving to the future? Can one succeed without remembering the past? Why role does your background play in your identity and is it something anyone can ever leave behind?

Essay Topic 2

Aunt Tam notes that Ton left the village (and Hang's mother) and killed himself because he could endure anything but shame. Discuss the merits of pride. Is pride a positive or negative attribute of a person? In Ton's case, what other solutions might he have explored while still maintaining a sense of pride?

Essay Topic 3

Aunt Tam, on her deathbed, requests that Hang live in the house and take care of the altar honoring their ancestors. Hang instead decides to sell off her Aunt's possessions and envisions a different world, a bigger world than what she could have in the village. Would you have made the same choice if you were in Hang's position? What would you do the same or differently and why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 675 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample