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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 Bao-yu do when the answer from Dai-yu is "no"?
(a) He laughs loudly.
(b) He begins to cry quietly.
(c) He takes her immediately to the pond.
(d) He throws a fit.

2. Who is suffering from a mysterious sickness at the end of Chapter 10?
(a) Dai-yu.
(b) Qin-shi.
(c) Qin Zhong.
(d) Bao-yu.

3. What does the main story line follow?
(a) The growing up years of cousins Bao-yu, Dai-yu, and Bao-chai.
(b) The growing up years of friends Bao-yu, Precious, and Jokey Jin.
(c) The growing up years of sisters Qan-yen, Qin-shi, and Dai-yu.
(d) The growing up years of brothers Bao-yu, Xi-feng, and Qin-Zhong.

4. At the birthday party in Chapter 11, what does much of the conversation center on?
(a) Bao-yu's lack of study skills.
(b) Qin Zhong's good looks.
(c) Qin-shi's puzzling illness.
(d) Jia Jing's life in the monastery.

5. What is the reason given against Yu-cun arresting Xue?
(a) Xue is from a rich family.
(b) Xue will put a curse on him.
(c) Yu-cun does not understand the circumstances.
(d) Xue is cursed.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the real reason for Jia Rui becoming ill?

2. What does Bao-yu drink while visiting Bao-chai?

3. What do Qin Zhong and Darling do while the headmaster is out?

4. What is the name of the summit at which the goddess leaves the extra stone?

5. Who are the first people who come across the stone after the goddess leaves it there?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the story of Ying-lian and Feng Yuan suggest about the role of fate and karma in the world of the novel?

2. How does the connection between Bao-yu and Bao-chai deepen in Chapter 7?

3. How does the story of Jia Rui teach a lesson about undue lust?

4. How does the author establish karma as a central theme in Chapter 1?

5. How is the divide between rich and poor developed in Chapter 2?

6. What can be understood from the events surrounding the situation at the school in regard to other school children making fun of the boys of the Jia clan?

7. What thematic devices can be drawn from Bao-yu's relationship with women both during his dream and afterward?

8. Discuss the concepts of fate and destiny in relation to the meeting at which Bao-chai looks at Bao-yu's jade.

9. What can we understand from Zhen Shi-yin's dream in the first chapter?

10. Upon their first meeting, do Bao-yu and Dai-yu feel a connection with each other? If so, how is it shown?

(see the answer keys)

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