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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. Who does Young-ja regularly take care of?

2. Who is Sasha's husband?

3. What does Zorkin tell Sasha as advice during her last performance during the master class?

4. What word does Mo-sae use to call for his wife when he gets frustrated at her absence?

5. How much does So-hyun's aunt write a check for her for at the end of each month for her work?

Short Essay Questions

1. What incident does So-hyun recall with great clarity happening between her parents just before leaving Korea?

2. In Korea, where does So-hyun's mother and brother go with her when her father's actions become unbearable?

3. Why does Albert think the reason Sasha contacts him after being out of touch for many years is strange?

4. What does So-hyun immediately dislike about the way her aunt and uncle in America treat her mother?

5. How does Mo-sae handle things when Young-ja does not come home for hours one day, because she is very ill?

6. Why does Young-ja feel anxious about leaving Mo-sae alone with their grandson in the story "The Art of Losing"?

7. What disappoints Albert about how his life has turned out?

8. Why does Sasha believe her daughter Alisa is special when it comes to the piano?

9. What does Albert seem to be considering at the end of the story "Solo Works for Piano"?

10. What extremes does Albert go through to prepare for the Van Cliburn competition?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why is So-hyun's father's reaction to Ji-ho's disrespect and behavioral problems so pivotal to her family's future in the story "Skinship?" Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

In "The Art of Losing," how does Cho convey Mo-sae's perception of the world as someone suffering from Alzheimer's to the reader? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

How does Sae-ri's character change over the course of the story "First Language," and what part does her having and caring for her children play in her character's arc throughout the story? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 720 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample