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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. Why does Pearl not leave with Z. G.?

2. What causes Joy to question the ways of the village?

3. In what do the sisters write to each other?

4. According to Auntie Hu, how can Pearl reclaim many of her old belongings?

5. What does Tao ask Joy?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Pearl do every morning for a job and what does she find as she is performing her duties?

2. What does the Prologue recount?

3. Describe Joy's trip to China.

4. What happens to Joy's stepfather, Sam, and how does Joy feel about it?

5. How does Joy get into China?

6. Who gives a mediocre performance in acting out Joy's play, and how is she received?

7. What is the Great Leap Forward and what does China hope to accomplish with it?

8. What happens when Joy calls her boyfriend Joe when she is wandering through Chinatown?

9. What does Pearl finally tell May about Joy and Z. G.?

10. How does Joy feel about returning to the Green Dragon Village, and what has happened to the village?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "Dreams of Joy", identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in this book. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot.) Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "Dreams of Joy" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "Dreams of Joy"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "Dreams of Joy" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 3

Dreams of Joy belongs to the fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the fiction genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a novel and a non-fiction?

(see the answer keys)

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