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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 activity will end the day of festivities?

2. What does Dirk do to get into May-may's quarters after the two argue over her ball gown?

3. When Dirk first visits the settlement, who sends a messenger requesting to see him immediately?

4. Who is kept busy painting portraits of Robb's children?

5. On what does the feng shui expert say Dirk's house is built?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why doesn't Dirk want to move their operations out of Happy Valley?

2. When Brock is dressing for the ball, what does he try to hide from Liza?

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

4. Why isn't Sarah able to attend Dirk's ball?

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

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

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

8. What does Brock do that causes Dirk to accuse him of piracy?

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

10. Why is the note that Longstaff asks to have translated into Chinese puzzling to Horatio and Glessing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What changes does Culum undergo through the course of the novel? What causes the changes? Is he truly ready to be tai pan at the close of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

What is the importance of Hong Kong to the Chinese and to the British? How do the traders feel about the possession of Hong Kong?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 598 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample