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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. How will Joy and her baby be sneaked out of the commune?

2. What does the brigade leader continue to expect?

3. What does the voice over the loudspeaker announce?

4. What does the brigade leader have Yong do?

5. What will Feng Tao supposedly do in Shanghai?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Pearl find has arrived one day after returning from work?

2. What war has broken out in the commune?

3. What are indications that the famine caused by The Great Leap Forward is progressing horribly?

4. Why does Tao's mother send Joy to the birthing house and what is the outcome?

5. What does the brigade leader say about Yong, and what does he make Yong do?

6. What do Dun and Pearl race to do and what does Pearl decide?

7. What happens that restores the closeness between Joy and Pearl?

8. How does Z. G. arrange for the group to get out of China?

9. What gives Joy hope as she boils her new shoes?

10. What crop is to be planted the following year and why is this a poor decision?

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

Characters are an important part of what makes "Dreams of Joy" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Joy. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Pearl. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Z. G. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

4. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Tao. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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