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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. Where does David tell Fitzwilliams some of the items to be auctioned originated?

2. What link did Brian possibly discover?

3. How much does the ruyi fetch at auction?

4. What does Brian write in his diary two days before his disappearance?

5. What does Brian write to Angela?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Hulan say to Angela when she visits her again, and what does Angela say to Hulan's questions about when she arrived in China?

2. What does David do as soon as he realizes Stuart is in danger?

3. What does David tell the person from Cosgrove about the artifacts from Lily?

4. What does the gate watcher at the compound tell Hulan?

5. Why is Tang angry at the end of the bidding for the ruyi? What does he do, and what does David realize about Tang? What does David do when Tang leaves the auction?

6. What does Stuart tell David about the ruyi, and what does David realize about Michael Quon?

7. What does David learn from Brian's journal?

8. What does Hulan finally realize about the courtyard? What does she ask Angela to do?

9. What does Hulan learn from Hom about what he plans to do and why he plans to do it?

10. What does Stuart say to Hulan about the dam?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dragon Bones, like most novels in the detective genre, involves police officers and police work. Discuss the following:

1. What are the characteristics of an effective police officer?

2. What additional characteristics does a police detective need?

3. Base upon the criteria in #1, 2 above, discuss the following characters and analyze whether you think they are effective police officers and/or detectives: Hulan, David, Hom, Zai, and Su.

Essay Topic 2

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).

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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