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

2. What are the peasants anxious to do?

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

4. Why do they put metal blinders on the water buffalo?

5. What has Auntie Hu managed to do despite the new governmental controls?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Pearl think about how she can get into China and who helps her?

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

3. Of what do Pearl's housemates accuse her, and who seems to be supportive of her?

4. What assignment is Joy given in the village, and why?

5. How does Joy get into China?

6. Who is Joy attracted to in the Green Dragon Village and how do the two interact?

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

8. What are some of the lies Joy discovers about her family?

9. What does Joy think about when listening to the propaganda about working hard?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Joy hears that Ping-Li had begged for a divorce from her abusive husband but was continually told to work for the greater good of China by being a better wife. Desperate, she committed suicide by throwing herself in front of the hay cutter. It is interesting to note that the villagers commented on how red her blood was, a sign of a good communist. There were not repercussions for Ping-Li's husband and dissent began to take over the women in the commune who claimed their rights weren't being respected. A few days later, the villagers were banned from speaking about Ping-Li's death.

1. Do you think Ping-Li was abused because she was not a good wife? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss the symbolism to the Chinese workers of the red blood and what kind of propaganda could make people discuss a woman who has just killed herself in such a manner. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. Discuss the reasons you believe the government banned the people of the commune from talking about Ping-Li. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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 "Dreams of Joy" is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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