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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 is David shocked to learn about the ruyis?

2. Who invented the story of the Nine Tripod's possible link to the site?

3. Whom does Brian tease as he passes their home in search of more relics?

4. What meeting is Captain Hom going to attend?

5. What link did Brian possibly discover?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

3. What does Hulan do with Michael after she leaves Hom, and what does he tell her?

4. With what does Brian become obsessed, and what does he realize about the geographic layout of the land at Site 518?

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

6. Who is David surprised to find at the auction and what does he do with him?

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

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

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

10. What does Hulan ask Stuart about after David leaves for Hong Kong, and what does he tell her about Lily and about himself and artifacts?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Liu Hulan is a rare and powerful figure in China as a woman of wealth in a power position with the most feared political group, the Ministry of Public Security. From her deals with the heads of state to her father to her upbringing and her current position, Hulan has led a life few in China even dream of having.

1. What do you think the above statement suggests about the role of women in China. Use examples from Dragon Bones and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss some of the reasons the Ministry of Public Security would be feared in a country with a totalitarian government. Use examples from Dragon Bones and your own life to support your answer.

3. How do you think turning her own father in as a criminal affected Hulan as a person? Use examples from Dragon Bones and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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