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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 what does Hulan threaten Angela in order to obtain the truth?

2. What does Fitzwilliams admit to David after being pressed?

3. How could David be helping his wife?

4. Whom does Miller say will be blamed if the dam fails?

5. What does the ruyi prove?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

3. What does David see Ma and Fitzwilliams doing, and what does Ma ask David to do?

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

5. How does Stuart feel about the dam project and why does he think it is a good project?

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

7. What does Angela say about Brian's notebook? What does she think about his death? What does Hulan ask her to do?

8. What does Hulan know about her and David after he leaves for Hong Kong and what does she resolve to do?

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

10. With whom does David sit during the auction? What is explained to David? Who bids on the ruyi?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Dragon Bones.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Dragon Bones. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Dragon Bones. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

1. What is foreshadowing? Would you consider the example in the above paragraph foreshadowing? Why or why not? Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

2. Discuss another example of foreshadowing in Dragon Bones, including why you believe it is foreshadowing. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from Dragon Bones and your own live to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,200 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample