Font size
WorksheetsInside Out and Back Again Study Questions
Total questions: 138
Worksheet time: 2hrs 4mins
Where does Ha live in the beginning of the novel?
Saigon, Vietnam
London, England
Alabama, USA
Florida, USA
What type of tree is Ha growing in her backyard?
Apple
Pineapple
Plum
Papaya
Which of the following best describes the conditions of Ha's village?
Everyone drives nice cars and travels frequently.
Families often have to stretch their supplies, because prices are going up.
Families have plenty of supplies and treat themselves regularly.
The village has a large market that people enjoy shopping at.
True or False: Ha has a strong connection to her father because he spends a lot of time with her.
True
False
Which war does Ha's story feature?
The Vietnam War
WWII
The Civil War
The Cold War
What government style does Ha's brother Quang constantly mention is bad?
Socialism
Communism
Captialism
Democracy
Does Ha trust President Thieu based on her reactions to his speeches?
No.
Yes.
What is the definition of an immigrant?
A person who comes from another country to live permanently in a foreign country.
A person who visits another country frequently.
A person who comes from their native country to live permanently in a foreign country.
A person who stays home and lives under a rock.
Which relative tells Ha's family about the "secret boat" that will take them to safety?
Quang
Ha's father
Uncle Son
Ha's teacher
Do Ha and her family make it safely to the boat?
Yes
No
How many brothers does Ha have?
1
2
3
4
Ha was sad to leave behind her...
Apple tree
Dog
Grandmother
Papaya tree
From the Poem “Inside Out” what is the best inference you can make about the place that Ha lives?
That it is a dangerous place to live.
That they eat things smeared in blood.
That they rely on fortune tellers to predict the future.
That she likes to jump rope.
What action best represents Ha’s affection for her mother?
She follows her everywhere.
She is going to give her the first papaya off of the tree.
She listens to her when her mom tells her to come inside.
She listens to her advice about staying away from her brothers.
Why is Titi leaving?
Her parents got another job in a different city.
She is going to school somewhere else.
The war is coming closer and the rich people flee in boats.
In the poem “Mother’s Day” it is revealed that Ha’s mother works two jobs but she doesn’t have enough money to buy a car anymore. What is the best conclusions you can arrive at to explain why she doesn’t have enough money?
She is working too hard at her first job and is not making enough clothing.
People aren’t buying the dresses because they aren’t pretty enough.
People are not buying the clothes because they cannot afford them because her prices are too high.
People are not buying the clothes because they need money for food.
In the poem "Eggs" on page 16, What is the best explanation as to why Brother Khoi cannot keep an egg to hatch?
They need the eggs for food because the price of food has gotten more expensive.
The chicken doesn’t give enough eggs.
The lamp isn’t hot enough to hatch an egg.
Ha likes to dip bread in a nice soft yolk.
In poem "Feel Smart " on page 19 What action explains why Ha feels smart?
She goes to the market all by herself.
She can find all the ingredients that her mother asks for all by herself.
She buys just a little less than her mom needs so she can buy something for herself.
She can count the money and figure out how much she can buy with the money her mom gives her.
In the poem "A Day Downtown" on page 32, What does President Thieu do that shows that there isn’t much hope for Southern Vietnam?
He gives a very short speech.
He is sweaty which must show that he is nervous.
He starts to cry and doesn’t wipe his tears away and faces the camera.
He is late for his speech.
In "Twisting Twisting" on page 37, Why do mother’s brows twist?
Because she is trying to figure out what to make for dinner.
Because she is hungry.
Because she is thinking of how to cook the yams.
Because she is worried because there isn’t enough rice to last till payday.
In "Closed Too Soon" on page 38, Why is school closed?
Because it is summer vacation.
Because there is no more food.
Because the war is coming closer to home.
Because the siren went off.
After reading the poem “Bridge to the Sea” what is the best reason they are leaving Vietnam?
Because the North is taking over the South.
Because they are running out of food.
Because Ha’s school closed.
Because Brother Khoi wants to hatch a chick.
After reading pages 44-51, what is the best reason that pushes mother towards the decision to leave Vietnam?
The president resigns.
They can hear the war at night.
When Ha chops the food she tries to slice off as little as possible to conserve food.
She decided to leave because she doesn’t want to be communist.
What does Brother Quang’s report cards reveal about his character?
He is leaving behind school.
He is really smart.
He has great potential to go to college someday
He is an overachiever.
What are the poems in Inside Out and Back Again about?
How the refugee's life changes.
How the refugee adjusts to a new beginning.
How the refugee was born.
How people face struggles in the world.
Where does Part 1 take place?
Alabama
Saigon
Guam
An island
Uncle Son is...?
Ha's uncle
Ha's mother's brother
Ha' father's friend
Ha's father's brother
From what country does the ship which rescues them come?
America
Guam
Thailand
China
Where does Part 1 take place?
Alabama
Saigon
Guam
An island
What character trait best describes Ha?
Greedy
Rude
Courageous
Respectful
How many brothers does Ha have?
1
2
3
4
Ha was sad to leave behind her...
Apple tree
Dog
Grandmother
Papaya tree
How is Ha's family able to leave the "Tent City in Florida?
They escape using their knowledge of the land
They board a bus to an American City of their choice
An American family chooses to sponsor them.
They are unable to leave "Tent City".
What does Mother's Amethyst ring symbolize?
The bond that she and the children share
Her favorite holiday
Her and father's relationship; the love they share for one another
Her favorite color, purple
From what country does the ship which rescues them come?
America
Guam
Thailand
China
Where does Part 1 take place?
Alabama
Saigon
Guam
An island
What character trait best describes Ha?
Greedy
Rude
Courageous
Respectful
How many brothers does Ha have?
1
2
3
4
Ha was sad to leave behind her...
Apple tree
Dog
Grandmother
Papaya tree
How is Ha's family able to leave the "Tent City in Florida?
They escape using their knowledge of the land
They board a bus to an American City of their choice
An American family chooses to sponsor them.
They are unable to leave "Tent City".
What does Mother's Amethyst ring symbolize?
The bond that she and the children share
Her favorite holiday
Her and father's relationship; the love they share for one another
Her favorite color, purple
What year does this story take place?
1945
1957
1975
1977
New Year's Day is also known as what?
Fet
Tet
Met
Pet
"I can't make my brothers go live elsewhere, but I can hide their..."
Coats
Hats
Sandals
Shoes
Who spotted the first blossom on the Papaya Tree?
Ha
Brother Khoi
Brother Vu
Mother
Brother Khoi wanted to do what with the eggs his hen laid?/¿El hermano Khoi quería hacer qué con los huevos que su gallina puso?
To save it for father/Para guardarlo para el padre
To eat it/ Para comerlo
To sell it/Para venderlo
To hatch it into a chick/para que pueda nacer en una chica
Who said, "One cannot justify war unless each side flaunts its own blind conviction."
Ha
Khoi
Quang
Vu
Who annouced to the people on the boat that Saigon was gone?
Uncle Son
President Thieu
Brother Quang
A crashed helicopter pilot
What does mother think of President Thieu?
A wonderful leader
He's ugly
He's a liar
He's funny
What does Ha take when they flee?
A doll
Report cards
A belt
Photographs
Who is Ho Chi Minh?
Ha's father
Father's best friend from the Navy
Titi's father
The comunist leader
Ha's best friend Titi is able to leave Vietnam because...
Her family is wealthy
Her father works for America
They're communist
She won a scholarship in Europe
Ha doesn't discuss Father with Mother very often. Why?
She doesn't know anything about him.
It makes Mother angry to hear his name.
It makes Mother very sad because she misses him.
It makes Ha too sad.
What does Ha want most for her birthday?/
Father to come home
A sister
Long Hair
To be equal with her brothers
Where does Inside Out and Back Again take place?
America
Korea
Vietnam
Japan
What is the Holiday that Ha's family celebrates in the beginning of the book?
Tet
The Year of the Cat
Christmas
4th of July
What does Ha do during Tet that breaks tradition?
She wakes everyone up.
She puts her foot down first.
She hides their sandals.
She promises brother Khoi.
True or False: When they were on the boat, they found out their country no longer exists.
TRUE
FALSE
What does Ha's mother do to help support her children?
She drives boats.
Sews and makes clothes to sell.
She does laundry.
She is a maid.
What is one of Ha's favorite things she has in Vietnam?
Papaya Tree
Her dog
Her brothers
Rice
When Ha's family is on the boat, which brother learns English?
Khoi
Quang
Vu
On the boat, which brother had a dead chick in their pocket?
Vu
Quang
Khoi
What country came to save the Vietnam ship?
Alabama
Communists
Korea
America
When Ha plucked a hair off of the American Man, what did she call the hair?
Golden Fuzz
Yellow String
Hair
When the family arrives to Tent City, what is the name of the place they are staying?
Alabama
Nuoc Mam
Guam
In Tent City Mother wants to sell something to get sewing materials. What does she want to sell to the black market?
Fathers Amethyst Ring
Papayas
Fish Sauce
Which state is going to sponsor Ha's family?
Alabama
Colorado
Texas
Maryland
Why does Ha's family have to repack and move again?
They do not want to live there
There is no food
The Cowboy's Wife
There is not enough room
What does Mother's Amethyst ring symbolize?
The bond that she and the children share
Her favorite holiday
Her and father's relationship; the love they share for one another
Her favorite color, purple
..being trapped in putrid air, hot air
made from fermented bodies
and oily sweat...
What does the word Putrid mean in this stanza?
uncomfortable
to smell delightful
of or characteristic of rotting matter
What does Mother do to provide a greater chance for her family to be sponsored?
She sells her ring.
She agrees to work for Cowboy.
She changes their religion.
She agrees to split the family up.
Why has Brother Quan become a "translator for all"? (p. 96)
He is the smartest.
He is the only one in the family who speaks English.
He is the oldest brother.
He is respected by all of the refugees.
Why does Ha's mother change her family's religion?
"...too huge a family by American standards."
"For a family to leave, an American must come to camp and sponsor a family."
"Mother amens our faith, saying all beliefs are pretty much the same."
"Mother learns sponsors prefer those whose application say "Christian"
Why does Ha eat rice slowly?
She is hungry and trying to save as much as she can because she is unsure when she will be able to eat again.
It is moldy and she doesn't like the taste
She didn't cook it enough so its hard.
She is full from all the other food she ate before she got settle on the ship.
In the poem Closed to Soon, what do the screaming sirens indicate?
The sirens indicate that school is out for summer vacation.
The sirens indicate the end of celebrating Tet.
The sirens indicate that Mother needs to shove her children under their beds for safety.
The sirens indicate that the war is quickly approaching Saigon.
Uncle Son, Ha's Father's best friend, said "there won't be a South Vietnam left to abandon." What did he mean by that statement?
South Vietnam will be destroyed during the war.
South Vietnam will be invaded by the Communists of North Vietnam.
All of the above.
Ha learns not to add an S to certain nouns to make them plural. Which word should you NOT add an S to make it plural?
boy
deer
snake
house
In "Sadder Laugh" - "The morning air glides cool like a constant washcloth against my face" is an example of:
simile
metaphor
symbolism
personification
The definition of tangible is...
something that serves as a reminder
possible to touch or handle
decayed or rotten
to deal with
The rickety old bridge was missing several boards and was unsafe to cross.
strong
scary
brand new
ready to fall apart
What does Ha do that makes her feel smart again?
Gets 100 on a spelling test
Answers a multiplication problem that stumps Pink Boy
Writes an essay about Vietnam
Braids her own hair and attaches pink barrettes
Why does Ha call October 14 Most Relieved Day?
Because she gets the highest grade on a math test
Because she makes friends with Pam and Steven
Because mother hears from father
Because she has learned 10 new words
What is the most important conclusion the family comes to when they hear the statement “Saigon is Gone”?
The communist have taken over South Vietnam.
They cannot go back home.
All the items that they left behind they can never get back.
They have to move to America.
The cowboy thought the neighbors would be more neighborly if ______.
Mother used lesser amounts of smelly fish sauce in cooking.
Ha's family agreed to be baptized at the Del Ray Southern Baptist Church
Ha kept better track of the family's chickens and pigs
Brother Quang promised to perform free tune-ups on their cars and pickups
What happened to MiSSSisss WaSSington's son?
He left Alabama and moved to New York
He died fighting in the Vietnam War
He died of cancer when he was a little boy
He moved to Canada to avoid the draft
The main character of Inside Out and Back Again is named:
(a)
Ha's family is from (a)
Ha's family had to flee Vietnam, making them (a)
Ha's oldest brother, named (a) , wants to become a mechanic
Ha's oldest brother, named Quang, wants to become a (a)
Ha's middle brother wants everyone to call him __ ___
(a)
Vu Lee's hero is the martial artist named _______ ___
(a)
Ha's youngest brother (a) is very interested in animals
Ha's family lived in the city of (a) in Vietnam
