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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. What does Su Yi's heart attack symbolize?

2. Why was it so important to Eddie Cheng that he was attending the World Economic Forum?

3. Su Yi dreams she is in India. What is she doing?

4. What lie does Eddie tell Su Yi?

5. Why did Alfred Shang need to contact his physician?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Nick Young ambivalent about returning to Singapore to see his grandmother, Su Yi?

2. What can you infer about Rachel's relationship with her mother from their phone conversation in Part 1, Chapter 7?

3. How does Nick know his grandmother is saying she is sorry for opposing his marriage?

4. What is the narrative perspective of the novel? Why is this perspective important?

5. Who is Oliver T'sien and what is his relationship to Kitty Bing?

6. What do Nick and Astrid have in common?

7. What is the purpose of the three problems discussed in the Prologue?

8. What is Victoria's reaction when Ah Ling announces that Alexandra and her family have arrived to see Su Yi?

9. Despite her concern for her grandmother, where does Astrid go?

10. How is the Bible study group described in Part One, Chapter Two?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of jealousy in the novel. What actions occur in the novel as a result of jealousy? Which characters demonstrate jealousy? What is the underlying motivation for their jealousy?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the character of Nick Young as the protagonist. How is he different from other characters in the novel? What characteristics does he share with other characters? What motivates him to make the journey to Singapore from New York?

Essay Topic 3

Many of the subplots in the novel center around the family relationships between the characters. Does money make the relationships stronger? If so, why? Does money negatively impact family relationships? Explain how.

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