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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. In Part Two, Chapter 2, Su Yi dreams about a priest who gives her a message. Who is the message from?

2. Why is Astrid hesitant to go away with Charlie?

3. What pattern emerges in Astrid's life in Part Two?

4. What does Nick do when he finds out his grandmother had a heart attack?

5. What did Colette do to Rachel?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the purpose of the three problems discussed in the Prologue?

3. Why is Nick Young ambivalent about returning to Singapore to see his grandmother, Su Yi?

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

5. What do you learn about Rachel's personality when she encourages Nick to reconcile with his grandmother?

6. What kind of relationship does Nick have with his mother, Eleanor?

7. What happens when Nick arrives at Tyersall Park?

8. When Su Yi appears in the dining room for breakfast, what does her attitude convey to her family?

9. What does the reader learn about Kitty Bing from her visit to the dress salon?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Su Yi is the matriarch of the Young family. Her character's actions drive the plot forward in the first half of the book. How does her character influence the plot of the novel after her death? What role does Su Yi play in the resolution of the main plot of the novel? Is she the most important character in the book? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the plot structure of Rich People Problems. What are the sub-plots in the novel and how do they fit into the story? Where does the rising action begin? Where is the novel's climax? Is the resolution consistent with the tone of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Su Yi leaves large sums of money to the members of her house staff. Why did she leave such large bequests to her staff and not to her children? Cite circumstances that demonstrate how the staff feels about Su Yi and her family.

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