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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 is the attitude of Jia Zheng's literary friends towards Bao-yu?

2. What is Dai-yu trying to do when Bao-yu comes to visit her in Chapter 19?

3. What sound comes from one of Bao-yu's rooms when the girls are ganging up on him?

4. What is most important about The Temple of the Iron Threshold in relation to Qin-shi?

5. What is Jia Rong offered immediately after there is concern about his status?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the way the Jia family undertake preparations for Yuan-chun's visit show about their character when it comes to money?

2. Hypothesize as to why Bao-yu's reaction to Qin-shi's death so violent.

3. How does Xiang-yun's presence lead Bao-yu to think more highly of Bao-chai?

4. Why is Dai-yu overcome with grief as she listens to the words of the actresses rehearsing in the garden?

5. For what reason(s) might Bao-yu have become discontented living in the Prospect Garden?

6. What superstition in Chapter 21 is shown to be false?

7. What is revealed about Xi-feng's character in the episode involving a servant woman bringing money to her?

8. How do the servants of the house react to Qin-shi's death?

9. Why does Jia Zheng finally start to warm to Bao-yu?

10. What facets of the relationships between masters/mistresses and servants are shown in the conflict between Jia Lian, Xi-feng, and Patience?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The central character of Bao-yu has a very clear arc of development. Discuss this with particular focus on the different levels of maturity that he attains and how he attains them.

Essay Topic 2

Because he is won over and particularly moved by the story of the stone, it could be said that Vanitas (later Brother Amor) is the character readers should identify with most. Comment upon this idea, explaining in the process how or why the story is "not just another erotic romance" as the stone itself says.

Essay Topic 3

Is the author justified in including a large number of coincidences (for example Dai-yu visiting Bao-chai at the same time as Bao-yu, or Xi-feng entering the room just as Patience confronts Jia Lian) in the novel? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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