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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. Why is Maxine fired from her job at the land developer's association?

2. In No Name Woman, who is telling the story?

3. What does Maxine say about the separation between China and America?

4. When Maxine's father leaves China, what country does he go to?

5. What do the people she meets show the girl to convince her to stay?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Moon Orchid's husband react when he sees her?

2. As an adult, why does the narrator refuse to cook, clean, or wash dishes?

3. What did the narrator's term "FOBs" stand for?

4. Why do you think the author emphasized that all of Brave Orchid's children majored in science and math?

5. In "White Tigers," who does the woman feel is riding with her while she is with her army?

6. Do you think the story of the narrator's aunt is true? Explain why or why not.

7. Who does the narrator believe is the crazy person in her home?

8. Do you think the narrator's aunt was a victim or an adultress? Explain why or why not.

9. Why does Moon Orchid hesitate to go see her husband in America?

10. What story does the narrator's mother tell at the beginning of the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "Shaman," the narrator says, "Before we can leave our parents, they stuff our heads like the suitcases which they jam-pack with homemade underwear."

Part 1) Explain the context of this quote. What is the narrator responding to when she makes this comment?

Part 2) Explain the meaning of this quote. What is the narrator trying to say?

Part 3) How does this quote relate to the narrator's life as a whole?

Essay Topic 2

A large part of the novel describes the narrator's childhood.

Part 1) Explain at least two of the secrets the narrator has to keep during her childhood. How do you think these secrets affected the narrator's personal and social life?

Part 2) Why do you think the Chinese American children are warned about immigration growing up? Explain what fears immigrants had during the time period of the novel's setting, and how these fears relate to the events of the novel as a whole.

Essay Topic 3

What are some of the battles the narrator feels she must take on as a woman warrior? Describe at least three, and explain how these goals impact the narrator's life.

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