View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is branding, cutting off the feet, cutting off the nose, castration, and death?

2. Where does David tell Fitzwilliams some of the items to be auctioned originated?

3. Where has Ma gone?

4. Who is threatening Miller?

5. What does Michael say is the reason he dropped the flashlight?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the gate watcher at the compound tell Hulan?

2. Where do Hulan and Michael go after lunch, and what does she hear? What does Michael do?

3. How does Michael act during dinner with Hulan, and what does he talk about?

4. With whom does David sit during the auction? What is explained to David? Who bids on the ruyi?

5. What does David learn from Brian's journal?

6. How does Stuart feel about the dam project and why does he think it is a good project?

7. Why is Tang angry at the end of the bidding for the ruyi? What does he do, and what does David realize about Tang? What does David do when Tang leaves the auction?

8. What happens to David right after the auction? Who helps him?

9. What does David show to Wu's widow? What do David and the widow do? What does she offer David?

10. What does David tell the person from Cosgrove about the artifacts from Lily?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In any detective novel, there are clues that point both to the real criminal(s) versus those that are designed to mislead the readers in order to add suspense. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze 5 clues that are designed to let the astute reader figure out who is the criminal(s).

2. Trace and analyze 5 clues that are designed to mislead even the astute reader in figuring out who is the criminal(s).

3. Do you enjoy being mislead in a mystery/suspense novel? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Dragon Bones, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in Dragon Bones. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the book more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Lisa See.

2. What in See's background may have helped See in writing Dragon Bones? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,263 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample