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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 Yuan-chun shocked by when she first sees the garden?

2. It is Yuan-chun's hope that this move to live with the girls _____.

3. Who leads Yuan-chun's arrival at her garden?

4. How long will burial ceremonies for Qin-shi last?

5. Where does Xi-feng's carriage briefly stop during the funeral procession for Qin-shi?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why do the children move into the Prospect Garden?

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

4. How does Patience show her loyalty to Xi-feng in Chapter 16?

5. Why does Aroma manipulate Bao-yu in Chapter 19?

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

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

8. What can be understood from the relationship between Qin Zhong and Sappy?

9. What does Bao-yu add to the book he is reading, and how does Dai-yu respond?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Is the author justified in ending the novel with a cliffhanger? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the ways the author uses characters' names as a medium by which to say something about their personalities or character.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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