Use any of the journals or informal writing you did for the Before You Read or As You Read Writing Activities in this section, and write an essay describing someone whom you admire, someone from your or your parents' generation, or someone you secretly observed.

Liu does not really understand all the Chinese phrases his grandmother says to him during their visits; however, he acts as if he does. Why do you think he does this? Have you ever "played along" and pretended to understand something you did not really understand? Describe the people involved in this incident.