On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Part 1

Reading Check

1. What is the name of the first book that Little Dog loved?

2. How old is Little Dog when he is writing this letter?

3. What triggers a traumatic flashback for Lan in Part 1, Section 2?

4. What is first referred to as “a god” in Part 1, Section 3?

5. What does Lan’s name mean when translated?

6. Where does Paul live?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why is Little Dog’s mother horrified by the taxidermied buck at the Virginia rest stop?

2. What is different about Lan when she sleeps, and why is Little Dog drawn to her?

3. How does Rose react when she finds out Little Dog was beaten up on the bus, and how does she explain her reaction?

4. What name does Lan’s mother give her, and what does it signify?

5. How does Paul respond to his neighbor’s assumption about Little Dog? How does Little Dog feel about the response?

6. Where are Little Dog, Rose, and Lan going in Part 1, Section 5, and what do they find when they arrive?