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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 Chapter 3, how much time does Dirk have to save his trading company?

2. What is Ti-sen wearing when he is brought into the square?

3. In Chapter 1, who takes possession of Hong Kong?

4. What kind of a ship do Dirk and Culum see from the mountain?

5. With what does Dirk bribe Chinese officials?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Dirk surprised to see Wu Fang Choi's ship in Hong Kong waters?

2. As Zergeyev is judging the gown contest, why does he try to find out who Dirk favors?

3. Who are the three people that Dirk must send to England to receive an English education.

4. Why does Brock panic when Dirk pays his debt to Brock in silver?

5. Why does Dirk have to be very careful when he travels to visit Jin-qua?

6. Why does Dirk view Hong Kong as a valuable prize?

7. What does Dirk believe he will be able to do if he gets the trade monopoly in Russia?

8. How does Gordon Chen build up the Hung Mun in Hong Kong?

9. Why does Brock plan to replace his clipper ships with steam-powered ships?

10. What does Sarah tell Dirk about Robb's last message to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What point of view is used to tell this story? Why is it necessary to use this point of view? Would another perspective work? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

How does the setting, both physical and historical, affect the plot of Tai-Pan? What is the importance of picking this specific time in history to set the novel in? Could the story have worked in a different historical setting? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

How are the relationships between parents and their children represented in this novel? Do the relationships seem healthy? Why or why not? Are there differences between the ways sons and daughters are treated? If so, what are they?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 605 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample