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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. Who says, "they feel because you are what you are, how glorious to win you to their cause "?

2. What does Yuan do on his first night in the capital?

3. What is Mei-ling's goal?

4. Which character has become a captain in the new army?

5. Who does Yuan describe as having the loudest laughter of everybody?

Short Essay Questions

1. Does Yuan keep his hopes up about Mei-ling changing her mind about his proposal? Why or why not?

2. When Yuan is on the train to visit his father, what kind of people does he notice sitting around him?

3. What does Yuan learn about his father's financial situation when he visits?

4. How does Yuan feel about America when he leaves it?

5. Why does Yuan accept Meng's proposal to come work in the new capital city?

6. Although Yuan has prejudices about the white people, why does he like his teacher's family?

7. What does Wu do when a beggar reaches for a handout from him?

8. Why is Yuan embarrassed by the Chinese brothers who put on a comedy act at the school?

9. In what ways does Yuan struggle with his pride?

10. Yuan claims that the American people hide their poor because they are ashamed. Why might Yuan be considered hypocritical when he uses this argument?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe how Sheng is symbolic of tradition and Meng is symbolic of revolution. Cite at least five specific examples. Also explain how three other characters are symbolic of either revolution or tradition.

Essay Topic 2

Mary describes the differences between idealism and enthusiasm. What are they? Which category does Yuan fall in? Why? Choose at least two other characters and describe how they are also either idealistic or enthusiastic. Why? Cite at least four examples from the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Yuan has a habit of judging people, places, and events by their outside experience.Citing specific examples from the novel, explain how this is true. Why is Yuan judgmental?

(see the answer keys)

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