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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 do Joy and her father go?

2. What are the peasants anxious to do?

3. On what wall is Joy's picture to be hung?

4. Who explains to Pearl that China has a large export business?

5. What does Tao say is the reason for the water buffalo's suffering?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does the Prologue recount?

3. What is Green Dragon Village?

4. How does Joy get into China?

5. What does Pearl think about concerning Joy's father, Z. G.?

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

7. What organization does Joy join in college and why does she end up in China?

8. Describe Joy's trip to China.

9. Where are Joy and Z. G. going after leaving the Green Dragon Village and what does Z. G. say Joy will have the opportunity to do?

10. Why is Pearl called into a government office and what is she told?

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

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "Dreams of Joy" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if "Dreams of Joy" is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider "Dreams of Joy" a successful novel? What about young teens?

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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