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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 is Liu Hulan?

2. How does Hulan accidentally kill Tang Wenting?

3. What does the narrator say will be a great achievement?

4. Upon what do Hulan and David agree as they are talking at breakfast?

5. What does Catherine say regarding Stuart?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Who does Hulan interview about Lily?

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

5. What does Wu's father think happened to his son?

6. Who do Liu and David meet at lunch the first day in Bashan?

7. What does Ma say about the people who have died at Site 518 thus far?

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

9. What happens on the river in the prologue?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes Dragon Bones interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze David. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Hulan. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Michael. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Dragon Bones. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think See chooses the symbols she does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think See chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss See's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliff hangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Sandford use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

(see the answer keys)

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