Falling Leaves Key

Name:_KEY The Memoirs of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter Date: ______Pd._

Directions: As you read the story answer the following questions. You may need to use additional paper to answer the questions. Page numbers are located at the end of the question.

Prologue 1. Who was the youngest child? 1 Susan 2. Who was the oldest child? 1 Lydia 3. What are the names of the boys? 2 Gregory, Edgar and James 4. What is the Chinese name for mother? 2 Niang 5. What do you think “falling leaves return to their roots” 3 Circle of life

Chapter 1 1. What did Adeline’s grand aunt do that was unique? 5 No bound feet 2. How were westerners perceived from 1842 to 1941? 6 Superior beings 3. What could happen to women who were unfaithful to their husbands? 8 kill her 4. What were first wives and concubines called? 9 Big wives 5. What is a mei-po ? 10 professional female marriage broker 6. What was one of Dr. Sun Yat Sen first acts when he became president?11 Oct 10 1911

Chapter 2 1. In 1918, the Japanese controlled what foreign country? 13 Korea 2. What does dain tie cheng jin (converting iron into gold) mean? 17 converting iron into gold 3. What is “re gou”? 19 dog meat served hot 4. When did the Sino-Japanese War begin? 22 July 1937

Chapter 4 1. What did Aunt Baba become to the children? 25 surrogate mother 2. What happened to Chinese girls who did not marry by the time they were 30? 25 Remained single for the rest of their lives 3. How did Adeline’s father view westerners? 29 Taller, cleverer, stronger and better 4. What happened in 1939 in the city of Tianjin? 30 It was drown in a great flood 5. What did the Japanese do to American and British settlers in the cities of Shanghai and Tianjin? 31 They were herded into Japanese concentration camps Chapter 5 1. What does being the eldest son in China mean? 35 Favorite of the father and grandparents 2. At Grandmother’s funeral, what did they wear? 39 dressed in white with white headbands or pretty white ribbons

Chapter 6 1. What is a “ya tou”? 45 slave girls 2. What was Susan’s reaction to Niang? What was Niang's response? 46 She resisted, burst into tears screaming. Niang slapped her across her face then lost control and beat her 3. Describe the sandwiches that cook prepared. 48 Thick layers of eggs flavored with garlic, onions and Yunan ham, within two slabs of crisp French bread

4. What is “congee”? 49 soupy gruel made of rice and water, pickled vegetables 5. What were the nicknames of the three brothers at school? 54 The three light bulbs 6. Where did the children hide fatty meat? 55 In their pockets, socks, trouser cuffs, or sticking it the bottom of the table. Sometimes they would hide it in their cheeks then run to the bathroom to flush it down the toilet 7. Why did Adeline think she was the least loved in the family? 60 Because she was a girl and because her mother died giving birth to her 8. What did PLT look like? 61 small, scrawny and weak with a tiny head but soft, fluffy yellow feathers 9. What happened to PLT? 63 The ducking leg was mangle by Jackie the German Sheppard’s bite. The next morning it died. 10. What did father whip Adeline with? 66 A dog whip 11. What gifts did Adeline’s school friends give her? 70 A Kung Fu novel, some comics, A Chinese chess set, package of treats: beef jerky, preserved plums, watermelon seeds, sweet ginger slices, salted limes, peanuts, a sheet of calligraphy paper with the word “Victory” on it and skipping rope.

Chapter 7 1. Describe Samuel Sung? 77 He was the youngest son of a family doctor. He graduated from the University of Tianjin with a degree in engineering. He taught for a few years and then got a Master’s degree from Purdue University in Indiana. He was thirty-one years old. He was five feet three inches tall, had a large balding head, small shifty eyes and eyebrows that pointes upwards, which made him look sinister. His lips tilted lopsided in a perpetual half grin. He was soft-spoken and well educated. 2. What happen so some of Lydia’s wedding gifts? 79 The best ones were kept by Niang 3. In 1948 how many Chinese yuan equaled one US dollar? 80 Two Million 4. What happened in China after the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Japan? 82 Civil war stated again almost immediately between the Nationalists and the Communists 5. What happened on January 21, 1949? 87 Chaing Kia-Shek resigned as President of the Republic 6. What kind of education did the boys receiving after graduating middle school? 89 They were sent to England for future studies 7. Who was “Third Uncle Frederick”? 90 Their dead mothers youngest brother Chapter 8 1. When it came to Adeline, what were the nuns instructed to do? 92 She was not to receive mail, phone calls or visitors. 2. How did Adeline get out of the convent? 93 Naing’s sister came an took her. 3. How did Hong Kong become under the control of the British? 94 Britain was given the peninsula after China lost the first opium War. 4. When did Britain hand back Hong Kong? 95 On July 1, 1997

Chapter 9 1. What were girls in China? 100 Cheap commodities. 2. What did eggs symbolize? 101 Rare privileges. They meant someone from home loved you enough to send you one. 3. How did Adeline view the library? 103 Treasure trove that held wonderful magic.

Chapter 10 1. What religion did Ye Ye practice? 107 He was a strict Buddhist. 2. What caused Ye Ye to fall? 109 Franklin placed greasy toothpaste on the bottom of Ye Ye’s shoes and when he went out in the rain he slipped. 3. What advice did Ye Ye give Adeline? 110 He told her to rely on herself, study hard and never given up no matter what people say.

Chapter 10 1. What did Adeline’s father say to her in the hospital? 113 He said “take care” and left. 2. What was sister valentine’s nickname? 114 Horse face 3. What did Niang say about Adeline at Ye Ye funeral? 114 Niang told her that she was ugly. 4. What career did Adeline’s father tell her she should take up in college? 117 A physician.

Chapter 11 1. Do you think it was alright for Samuel’s father to have a concubine? 118 Answers may vary. 2. How do farmers fertilize their field? Why is this dangerous? 120 Human feces. Very dangerous due to bacteria from the waste can spread to the fruit/food. 3. How did father take to the loss of Franklin? 121 He placed all his effort on his work and did not complain about anything.

Chapter 13 1. How did London look when Adeline and James arrived? 122 It looked Grim and bleak from the bombs in WWII. 2. What was father’s response when he heard that Gregory wanted to become a professional bridge played? 124 “Why don’t you become a pimp instead?” 3. Who was Rupert? 126 An 81-old male corpse 4. Why was Adeline’s stipend less then her brothers? 128 She was a girl. 5. How did C.S. Tang view Chinese dating Westerners? 132 Thought of them as trailors.

Chapter 14 1. When was the height of the cold War? 138 1950’s and 1960’s.

Chapter 15 1. Where did James first live when he returned from Cambridge? 141Lived at the YMCA. 2. What does feng shui mean? 143 Wind and water 3. What did Adeline want from her father? 145 to be loved and accepted by him. 4. How much more did male doctors make than their female counterpart? 148 25 cents

Chapter 16 1. What hospital was Adeline accepted to when she came to America? 154 Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia

Chapter 17 1. What was Byron’s main occupation? 160 Waiter at a Chinese restaurant 2. What was the name of the son? 165 Roger

Chapter 18 1. Traditionally, what do people wear in China on January 1st? 167 New clothes 2. How do you know that Byron used physical force on Adeline? 170 Bruises on her face. 3. What did Niang say to Adeline concerning the health of her husband? 175 Is he insane? 4. What does “You plant melons, you reap melons” mean? 175 You get what you do or “reap what you sow’.

Chapter 19 1. What happened in Macau in April 1966? 180 Industrial dispute. 2. What happened to Susan’ dentist friend? 185 Niang told him that he could not see Susan anymore because he was not ready for marriage. 3. What did Susan say to Niang concerning Franklin? 187 She was happy he was dead because he was a demonstrative brat. 4. What did father and mother say to their children concerning Susan? 189 That they disowned Susan and that they may not have any contact with her. 5. When did father become ill? 191 1976 Chapter 20 1. What was the Rural Co-Operative Movement of 1955? 199 Rich peasants were denounced. 2. How would you characterize the 1958 Great Leap Forward? 199 Answers may vary. 3. How did the Red Guard members treat Aunt Baba? 202 They raided her house and physically abused her. 4. Who were the “Blacks?” 203 Rich peasants and counter revolutionaries. 5. In what year did President Nixon recognize China? 204 1972

Chapter 21 1. What did Bob wear on his chest at school? Why? Badge-“I am Chinese” so he would not be discriminated against in school.

Chapter 22 1. How much gold did father have stored away? 212 Two tons 2. What disease did father have? 216 Alzheimer’s disease

Chapter 23 1. What major event happened in China in 1976? 218 Mao Zedong died 2. What did Aunt Baba say they were victim of? 224 They were victims of history and Niang. 3. What were the four classes and who made them up? 224 1st-American born, 2nd- overseas Chinese, 3rd-American-born ethnic Chinese, 4th-native Chinese. 4. What were the three centuries and who was involved? 226 19th century was a British century, 20th century was an American century and the 21st century was a Chinese.

Chapter 24 1. At the arrival of the plane, how many years had past since Adeline had last seen Lydia? 228 31 years. 2. What did Adeline’s parents clearly state about her? 228 That she was unwanted , expendable and abominable. 3. What was commune life like in China during the Cultural Revolution? 230 Food was scarce. Home conditions were bad, and children couldn’t receive an education and to work on farms. 4. What happened to Adeline’s father in 1982? 232 He was admitted to room 525 of the Hong Kong sanatorium. 5. What was China getting back on July 01, 1997? 233 Hong Kong 6. What was Hong Kong going to be like from the years of 1997-2047? 234 Citizens were assured that they would have the same legal rights for 50 years.

Chapter 25 1. What had all the children become with the death of their father? 236 They became the older generation. Chapter 27 1. When did Chinese students march on Tiananmen Square? 244 May 4, 1989 Chapter 28 1. What do you think “wine and meat friends” meant? 254 Answers may vary- When you have a party so they are not true friends 2. What was in Adeline’s orange juice? 257 Her brother’s urine. Chapter 30 1. What did Adeline say when she read her father’s will? 267 That Niang’s will didn’t matter and that her father’s will/love was the only thing that was important to her.

Chapter 32 1. How old was Aunt Baba when she died? 272 89 years 2. What does “falling leaves return to their roots” mean to you? Answers may vary 3. Now that you have read the book, what is your reaction? How did Adeline’s story make you feel? Answers may vary.