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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. While searching for Mother, why does Sookan try to stay awake at night?

2. How is the guide who is to take the family south dressed?

3. When Sookan looks after Inchun, what does he call her?

4. Who joins the Party in hopes of relieving any suspicions about Sookan's family?

5. While escaping to the South, why does Sooken take off her shoes?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are Inchun and Sookan interrogated by the Russians?

2. When the family prepares to escape to the South, who stays behind and why?

3. Who helps Sookan and Inchun when they get across the border? How?

4. Why are the school children encouraged to talk about their home life?

5. Describe Dobraski.

6. What happened in 1950?

7. Why don't most of the Korean people know when the war is over?

8. How does the old man at the train station help Sookan and Inchun?

9. What does Aunt Tiger do to ease suspicions about the family's true opinion about Communism? How well does it work out?

10. What is a "Worker's Paradise"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Sookan's education within the novel, mentioning:

1) Japanese school

2) Little Proletariat School

3) Grandfather's home lessons

4) Sookan's school in Seoul.

Essay Topic 2

Explain Korean history as it relates to the setting and story of "Year of Impossible Goodbyes."

Essay Topic 3

Explore and discuss the writing style used in "Year of Impossible Goodbyes."

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 676 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample