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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 does the family take notice in terms of Dai-yu's situation?

2. Who does Dai-yu learn she will be living with even though it is not customary for girls to live with boys?

3. Why does Yu-cun feel uncomfortable around the usher?

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

5. What does Xi-feng do when Bao-yu questions a servant at the Ning Mansion?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the symbol of Greensickness Peak in relation to the rest of the novel.

2. Why does Vanitas change his name to Brother Amor?

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

4. Although the Jia family throws a spectacular birthday party for Jia Jing even though he refuses to leave the monastery to attend, much of the conversation centers on Qin-shi's puzzling illness. Hypothesize as to why this is.

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

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

7. How does Bao-yu use family ties to his advantage during the events at the school?

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

9. What events surrounding the trial in Chapter 4 illustrate further the Jia family's decline?

10. Despite his limited presence, what becomes clear about Bao-yu during the first few episodes that involve him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the author's reasoning behind having such a large number of important and clearly defined characters? Illustrate your answer with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

"In The Story of the Stone, the keeping of secrets frequently benefits all concerned." In your perception, is this statement true or false? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the central dramatic device of the novel, the love triangle between Bao-yu, Dai-yu and Bao-chai, and how it is used to generate conflict and drama and to maintain the reader's interest.

(see the answer keys)

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