View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why is Joy happy but frustrated when she receives a package from Pearl?
(a) That the letter is brief and says nothing.
(b) That there is no money in the package.
(c) That there is no baby formula in the package.
(d) That Pearl has not come to the commune in person.

2. What do Pearl's housemates do when Pearl is out of the house one day?
(a) Take everything of any value out of Pearl's bedroom.
(b) Destroy Pearl's bedroom.
(c) Give Pearl's bedroom to another woman.
(d) Searched her bedroom.

3. What does Dun recognize as symbolic of extreme distress?
(a) The "x" mark on several pieces of paper.
(b) The feathers in the package.
(c) The boiled piece of leather.
(d) The black circles on several pieces of paper

4. What is the meaning of the item pinned to Yong's chest?
(a) She is being recognized for some achievement.
(b) She is going to give a talk.
(c) She has been denounced from the commune.
(d) She is being allowed to retire.

5. What requires that every pair of hands work nonstop?
(a) The harvest.
(b) The Great Leap Forward.
(c) The upcoming festival.
(d) The overseer.

6. What are sparrows, rats, insects, and flies considered?
(a) The worst karmic debt.
(b) The most fleeting Karma.
(c) The four evils.
(d) The four blessings.

7. Where does Tao's mother send Joy when she begins contractions?
(a) No where.
(b) The next-door neighbor's house who is a midwife.
(c) The hospital in the closest city.
(d) The birthing house.

8. What is valued over performance?
(a) Espirit de corps.
(b) Looking busy.
(c) Nothing.
(d) Speed.

9. What has likely happened to the messages Pearl has sent Joy?
(a) The censors have confisgated them.
(b) She does not think Pearl has sent her any messages.
(c) They were burned for starting fires.
(d) They are lost somewhere along the way.

10. Who does Joy think the most powerful leaders in China are?
(a) The ones who get busy and help the peasants with the harvest.
(b) None.
(c) The ones who lie the biggest and best.
(d) The ones who have been executed for so-called treason.

11. What is Tao disgusted with Joy?
(a) Because of her paintings.
(b) Because she wears dresses.
(c) Because she wants to go back to America.
(d) Because she loves a female child.

12. Why does Tao insult Joy after she gives birth?
(a) For not allowing Tao to take the child and kill her.
(b) For wanting to name their child after an American.
(c) For screaming during labor.
(d) For not having a boy.

13. What work does Pearl do?
(a) Cooking for the harvesters.
(b) Stoke the blast furnace.
(c) Grinding wheat.
(d) Cleaning the canning pots.

14. Who does Pearl carry to the car?
(a) No one.
(b) Kumei.
(c) Ta-Ming.
(d) Yong.

15. What does everyone on the commune worry about concerning the upcoming winter?
(a) The artic winds are supposed to be worse this year.
(b) The winter will be harder than last year.
(c) The snow will be worse than last year.
(d) The ground will get too hard to plow.

Short Answer Questions

1. How is Joy's relationship with her in-laws proceeding?

2. What does Joy request of Tao in front of the commune?

3. How are Pearl and Dun married?

4. What was Joy too weak to do?

5. What does Pearl confide to Joy about Dun?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 598 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample