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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. Who visits Aroma's home with Bao-yu?

2. What character does one of the child actors look like?

3. What causes Qin Zhong's father to die?

4. What kind of party does Grandmother Jia decide to hold?

5. Who seeks advice from Bao-yu about how to take care of the Ning household?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. In Chapter 20, how does Bao-yu show that he cares about Dai-yu?

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

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

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

8. In what ways are Bao-yu's intellectual abilities displayed in the events surrounding Yuan-chun's visit?

9. What is Shui Rong's impression of Bao-yu?

10. How is the relationship between Bao-yu and his servants developed in the events after Yuan-chun's visit?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the role of sex and sexuality in the novel.

Essay Topic 2

How is the society portrayed in the novel shown to be strongly familial? In your answer, comment upon the familial influences felt by Bao-yu.

Essay Topic 3

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 890 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample