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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 did Alfred Shang need to contact his physician?

2. What is the narrator's point of view?

3. Why does Victoria resent her brother Philip?

4. What is Michael's relationship like with his son, Cassian?

5. What does Su Yi say when Bishop See asks her what religion she follows?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Su Yi gives Nick a gift for Rachel. What is the gift and what does it signify?

5. Mabel Shang holds a grudge against Charlie Wu's mother, Irene. What is behind her lingering anger?

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

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

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

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

10. Despite her concern for her grandmother, where does Astrid go?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Not all the characters in the novel are fictitious. Why does the author include real people as part of the story? Does it affect your perception of the book? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

When Nick finds his grandmother's diaries, he learns things about her past that were largely unknown to her family. What does Nick learn about her character? How does he react to what he learns? What effect do Su Yi's diaries have on Nick and his decisions concerning Tyersall Park?

Essay Topic 3

There are three generations of the Young family in the novel. How does a multi-generational perspective support the story's plot? Does each generation have their own problems? Compare and contrast the three generations.

(see the answer keys)

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