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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 does David decide to do?

2. To what is Hulan being assigned?

3. Who is Liu Hulan?

4. With what is Hulan's mother plagued?

5. What is Hulan noted as being?

Short Essay Questions

1. What unofficial position does Hulan have in China and why?

2. What does Ma tell Liu about the missing relics in Chapter 6?

3. What does Hulan do after receiving her first assignment in Chapter 1?

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

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

6. 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?

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

8. What does Xiao Da say at the Society meeting and what happens to David and Hulan at the meeting? What does Hulan think is the reason she was sent to Site 518?

9. What does Michael say when Hulan interviews him?

10. How does Hulan think Lily's death is related to Hulan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Dragon Bones, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in Dragon Bones. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Dragon Bones is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Dragon Bones is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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