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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 is the difference between Mark and Kramer from Seinfeld?

2. What is January at Joan's hospital?

3. What dish does Nanny especially make with Joan's mother for Joan?

4. Whose clothes does Joan borrow at her brother's?

5. What is the hospital director worried about concerning Reese?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Mark give so many things to Joan?

2. What does Mark give Joan that she knows she will not really make use of?

3. What television show does Joan start watching regularly that has been hugely popular?

4. What iconic movie does Joan take objection to, and why?

5. Why is Reese upset in Part III?

6. What does the Chinese phrase for "goodbye" really mean?

7. What important piece of information does Joan not tell Mark about her recent personal past?

8. How does Mark take the news of the new virus that is circulating?

9. What is the hospital director worried about that he confides in Joan about?

10. What happens to Reese's desk in his absence from work?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do you think Wang means to communicate to the reader about medicine and Reese's character through his interactions with Joan? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay describing how Wang uses tone and language to establish Joan's character throughout the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Towards the end of the novel, how does Joan establish boundaries and have a relationship with her neighbor Mark on her own terms? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

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