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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. With whom does Hulan make a deal five years earlier?

2. To what is Hulan being assigned?

3. What do Hulan and David do at Chongqing?

4. What did Michael and Brian do together the last year?

5. Who does Hulan go to see regarding her new assignment?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Liu Hulan doing at the opening of Chapter 1?

2. What was Hulan given permission to do in her deal with high powered Chinese officials five years prior to the opening of the novel?

3. What do David and Liu do after packing in Chapter 4?

4. What are David and Hulan told at their meeting with Zai?

5. Who does Hulan interview about Lily?

6. Who does Ma first introduce David and Liu to and what does this man tell them?

7. What does Hulan surprise David with when they return to their room in Chapter 7, what is the result of that surprise and what does Liu question with David?

8. What does Brian's sister tell them about him, what does Lily say when she joins them in conversation?

9. What does Michael say when Hulan interviews him?

10. Who meets the couple at Bashan, and what does he tell them as he takes them to their lodgings?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hulan is a deeply hurt woman. Her past failures with the factory workers, her marriage, and the death of her daughter all serve to force Hulan to hide behind her passion as an inspector.

1. What are some ways Hulan might be able to quit feeling guilty about the factory workers? Use examples from Dragon Bones and your own life to support your answer.

2. Why do you think Hulan is hiding in her job since her daughter died? Why might that be a defense mechanism? Use examples from Dragon Bones and your own life to support your answer.

3. It is not unusually for a marriage to fail falling the death of a child. Discuss reasons you think this happens. Use examples from Dragon Bones and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Dragon Bones and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Dragon Bones is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In most fiction, readers would like all the loose ends to be neatly "tied up." Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Dragon Bones is successful as a detective novel? Why or why not.

2. What about this book would motivate you to read another of Lisa See's books? What would discourage you from doing so?

3. Were all the "loose ends" satisfactorily settled for you? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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