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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. What two things does Father forget about Adeline?

2. What happens to the other students at St. Joseph's?

3. When do Niang's plans for Big Sister come to light?

4. How much older is Big Sister's future husband than she?

5. Who greets Adeline when she awakens?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the scene when the Shilling family and Adeline arrive at the Shanghai household.

2. How does Adeline discover Big Sister's impending nuptials?

3. Why does Adeline reject the egg she is finally given? What reason does she give for not eating it?

4. How does Adeline finally leave St. Joseph's?

5. Describe the room where Adeline is left when she arrives at St. Joseph's.

6. What is Adeline's initial punishment from Niang and what does Adeline wish for?

7. How is Adeline finally able to attend Wu Chen-mei's birthday party?

8. Describe what happens when Adeline arrives home for lunch.

9. What does Adeline fantasize about at night?

10. How do the students treat Adeline the next day at school after Niang's outrage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Father and Niang tell Adeline and her siblings that they want to teach them a lesson about austerity. Are they sincere in their actions? Why or why not? Is there a dichotomy between the children? Do Father and Niang live a life of austerity? Why or why not? Use specific examples to support your position.

Essay Topic 2

How important is it that Niang is Eurasian and not fully Chinese in the novel? Explain instances that highlight Niang's mixed heritage and the importance of it in various situations.

Essay Topic 3

In the beginning of the novel, Adeline says that to believe in one single positive dream is more important than a thousand negative realities. Do you think that Adeline lives this way as a child? Why or why not? What positive things happen to Adeline to counterbalance all of her negative instances? Name three positive things that happen to Adeline and how you feel they affected her.

(see the answer keys)

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