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

Short Answer Questions

1. How tall is the Western Pagoda said to be in Wang Lung's village in Chapter 18?

2. What do the villagers call Wang Lung instead of "Wang the Farmer" in Chapter 30?

3. Whom does Wang Lung's second-eldest son say his older brother has been going out with at night in Chapter 23?

4. What does Wang Lung's aunt say Lotus "reeks of" when she helps her into her chambers in Chapter 20?

5. Whom does Lotus befriend, much to Wang Lung's discouragement in Chapter 21?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Wang Lung's family go about relocating to the city in Chapter 29? Who is the last to leave the land?

2. What does Wang Lung's young cousin do that causes conflict in Wang Lung's house in Chapter 31?

3. What decision does Wang Lung make regarding his second-eldest son in Chapter 25?

4. How would you describe Wang Lung's sons in Chapter 30? How are each of his sons different?

5. What does Wang Lung do in preparation for Lotus's arrival at his home in Chapter 20? How is his behavior affected?

6. What leads Wang Lung to send his eldest sons away to school in Chapter 17?

7. How does Wang Lung perceive his family and children in Chapter 17?

8. What does Wang Lung do in order to gain control over his uncle and his family in Chapter 28?

9. How does Wang Lung perceive Lotus's friendship with his aunt in Chapter 21?

10. Whom does Lotus suggest to Wang Lung for an arranged marriage for his son in Chapter 23?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the plot structure of The Good Earth. Where does the exposition transition to rising action? Where does the climax take place? What are the conflicts that the protagonist faces in the climax? How are these conflicts resolved in the denouement?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and analyze the character of Wang Lung as the protagonist of The Good Earth. How old is Wang Lung when his character is first introduced? How old is he when the novel ends? How does Wang Lung change in the course of the novel? What are Wang Lung’s main objectives in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the setting of Wang Lung’s homestead in the novel. How does this setting evolve and change in the course of the narrative? What does Wang Lung’s land represent for him symbolically?

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