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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Cassandra see in her email?
(a) A gossip story about Nick.
(b) Photos of Charlie and Astrid's engagement.
(c) A photo of Kitty Bing.
(d) An email from Nick's mother.

2. What incident in Chapter 9 symbolizes the Young family's disregard for the money they spend?
(a) Alexandra buys a mansion to be near her mother.
(b) Victoria orders Ah Tock to have 500 gallons of bottled water shipped to Singapore overnight.
(c) All the Youngs travel with ten or more servants.
(d) Victoria purchases plane tickets for her whole family.

3. What brings the members of the family together in the dining room?
(a) Ah Ching's famous crepes.
(b) Doctor Oon.
(c) A family meeting.
(d) Eddie's tantrum.

4. What does Rachel encourage Nick to do?
(a) Stay in New York City and send a telegram to Singapore.
(b) Return to Singapore, put the past behind him, and make up to his grandmother before she dies.
(c) Ignore his mother's request and stay in New York.
(d) Visit his mother and father in Singapore.

5. Eddie is concerned with appearances. What happens to upset him during the lawn party?
(a) His children are getting ice cream on their clothes.
(b) His wife is wearing the wrong dress.
(c) Philip is wearing nicer clothes than he is.
(d) He is uncomfortable in his linen suit.

Short Answer Questions

1. What shocks Oliver about Kitty's relationship with Colette?

2. What is Victoria's reaction when she learns her sister Alexandra has arrived at Tyersall Park?

3. How do Astrid's parents react to the gossip column article?

4. When Ah Tock enters the kitchen at Tyersall Park, what are cooks making that reminds him of parties at the house?

5. What do the gossip columns, secret photographers, and spying symbolize in the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. Su Yi dreams she is in Ranakpur, India. Who does she meet in her dream?

2. How is the Bible study group described in Part One, Chapter Two?

3. Who is Oliver T'sien and what is his relationship to Kitty Bing?

4. In Part One, Chapter One, what do you learn about Charlie Wu from his encounter with Eddie Cheng?

5. How does Eddie treat his mother when she tries to contradict him about Su Yi's wishes?

6. What is Victoria's reaction when Ah Ling announces that Alexandra and her family have arrived to see Su Yi?

7. What is the narrative perspective of the novel? Why is this perspective important?

8. What kind of relationship does Victoria have with her brother, Philip?

9. How does Felicity react when she reads the gossip article about Isabel's attack on Astrid at the Bible study luncheon?

10. Who is Lucia Shang? How does her character fit into the novel's plot?

(see the answer keys)

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