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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. Why does Yuan decide to attend church?

2. When Yuan is alone with the old tenants, why are they suspicious of his motives?

3. What do Yuan's reasons for staying at the home of the old tenants demonstrate?

4. How does Yuan feel about the maid?

5. How long does Yuan live in the earthen house before his father's people find him?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 1, why does Yuan feel trapped?

2. When Yuan travels to the earthen home that once belonged to his grandfather, why do the people look at him suspiciously?

3. Why is Yuan so proud to call Ai-lan's mother his own mother?

4. What is the one thing that does not cut off Yuan from the poor around him?

5. Why do Sheng and Yuan separate once they arrive in America?

6. When Yuan is sitting by his ill father at the fire, what causes Yuan to start to resent him again?

7. What does Yuan think of the women at the pleasure houses?

8. What finally pushes Yuan to join the cause?

9. How does Yuan try to run away from himself?

10. Why does Yuan sometimes make his homeland seem more perfect than it is?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What social changes occur in Yuan's homeland? What is Yuan's reaction to the social changes that have occurred? Cite at least three sources that show Yuan's reluctance to social change. Analyze how this affects his development as a character.

Essay Topic 2

The number three is significant in several ways, one being that there are three stages in Yuan's life. Describe these three stages and how they compare and contrast. These stages of life are represented by the three different chapters. Explain how this is significant.

Essay Topic 3

Yuan has difficulty rejecting the traditions of the past and accepting the revolutionary ideas. What traditional ideas does Yuan have trouble rejecting and accepting? What revolutionary ideas does Yuan have trouble rejecting and accepting? What conclusions does Yuan come to in the end? Cite at least three examples from the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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