Page 23 - 24; Q 1 - 4

Q1. "However, China had nothing to say to my spirit, if indeed land speaks to spirit. My spirit was as alien here as I was. It inclined towards a diamond city of trees and meaningful occupation, efficiently sparkling in the modern world. that was where I truly belonged, among skyscrapers with glass fonts and gold-encrusted orchids."Do you think the reference to Singapore as a "diamond city" is apt? Why or why not? How would you describe your feelings towards Singapore, using imagery you feel suitable?

A: I think the reference to Singapore as a "diamond city" is apt. When he mentioned 'my spirit was as alien here as I was', he can no longer treat China like his 'diamond city' as he has left there since young. And now, he feels much more closer to Singapore and he does treat it as a 'diamond city' without fail. My feelings towards Singapore would probably be described as fascinated for there are many unexpected things happening in our everyday life, regardless of whether we are students or working adults.

2. "With great grandness, my uncle ordered orange drinks from the waiter. He criticized the glasses as dirty when the drinks arrived and insisted on new ones..... I kept buying him the orange drinks he swallowed with suck relish."Why do you think her uncle behaves in this manner? Do you feel sorry for him or do you regard him with distaste, as his niece does?

A: In my opinion, I think her uncle behaves this way because he was required to do all the hard work when he returned to China and suffer all the hardship that took place, but not her father. He found it unfair for himself, and he starts to demand more and more from his brother to recoup his losses in the early days. I do not feel sorry for him at all for it was his job to take charge of the situation and he has no one to blame, but himself. He could have chosen to stay in Singapore and not return, but he did not. I do regard him with distaste for he fails to look up to his own mistakes but blame others.

3. "I returned to Singapore alienated from the china I saw, but no less eager to listen to my father's stories of the most beautiful lands."Do you find this contradiction? Why or why not?A: Yes, I find it contradicting. She did not find what her father said and what she saw any bit that's similar, but she is still willing to find out more about what her father thinks of China in his own heart without knowing that China has changed so much so that it's no longer the China he knew. She used beautiful land for she believes that her father stopped at that point of time that China was still a piece of beautiful and perfect land for her father to stay in.

4. "A country is only as good as its men. My father is a good man.... whichever country can clain him as its own."What do you think the narrator means by the first statement? To what extent would you agree that her father is a good man? Give reasons for your answer. Which country, do you think, should claim him for its own?

A: 'A country is only as good as its men.' I believe that the narrator means that whatever the men believes the country is, as long as he has confidence in the country, the country will be what the men believes. To a large extent I would agree her father is a good man. When he had to send more money to his brother in china, he did not grumble or complain a single thing to anyone. He might feel annoyed by his brother's act, but he did not express it out, for he believed that his brother is still wonderful deep down in his heart. Thus he did not want to spoil his image in front of other people. In my opinion, Singapore should claim him for its own. It's only fair for him to enjoy his life in Singapore but not return to China to work hard again to support his brother