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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 does a guard tell Pearl he directed Joy?

2. Why does Z. G. arrange for Joy and Tao to have art lessons together?

3. Why does Joy accept Tao's offer of marriage?

4. Who is chasing Joy from the United States?

5. Who are the narrator(s) in "Dreams of Joy"?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. How is the commune set up for The Great Leap Forward?

6. What do Z. G. and Joy begin doing immediately at the commune, and why is the work so grueling?

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

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

9. How does Joy get into China?

10. What does Pearl find when she goes to her childhood home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Lisa See.

2. What in See's background may have helped him in writing "Dreams of Joy"? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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