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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. What was Pan's nickname?

2. What did Dr. Li teach Salzman?

3. In what city did Salzman and Bill visit Hai Bin?

4. How many private students did Pan teach?

5. What nickname did Salzman give Hai Bin?

Short Essay Questions

1. What lessons did Salzman learn from Hai Bin during their calligraphy sessions together?

2. How did it come about that Salzman went to China to teach English for two years?

3. How did Salzman's class respond to his reading of "The Lottery"?

4. How did Salzman try to put Mr. Gong's youngest son at ease during their drawing lessons?

5. Describe what made Salzman's lecture about the movie character E.T. so successful.

6. What did Dr. Li teach Salzman?

7. What happened when Salzman developed athlete's foot and needed medication?

8. Describe the Hunan Theater.

9. Why did Salzman give a gift to Mr. Gong's youngest son?

10. Why was Mark Salzman detained at the train station when he was leaving China after a two-year stay?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the significance of Pan's final meeting with Salzman. Why did Salzman find it exhilarating? Why was Pan's gift of the sword meaningful to Salzman? Did it represent a change in they way Pan thought about his skills?

Essay Topic 2

How was Salzman received in China? How did his students react to having a foreigner as a teacher? Why were some people frightened of him? What was Old Ding's first reaction to him?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the organization of "Iron & Silk." Does it flow well? Are the chapter titles useful in understanding the content? Why does Salzman choose multiple titles for each chapter?

(see the answer keys)

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