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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. How does Xi-feng's personality as an overbearing mistress come to light in the Ning house?

2. Who does Jia-zeng realize will probably be his only heir?

3. To whose house does Bao-yu wander to to study to look at a painting that he likes?

4. How many people does Bao-yu share the romantic/erotic stories with?

5. When Dai-yu hears one of Bao-yu's romantic stories, she becomes _____.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. How does Bao-yu show increasing maturity in his response to the quarrels among his female companions?

6. How is Qin-shi's honor and devotion to family seen before she dies?

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

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

9. Analyze Bao-yu's interactions with his father Jia Zheng during the naming party.

10. How does the family express their bereavement of and Qin-shi's death to the public?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss whether the use of symbolism in the novel is effective. Make reference to the stone of the title and at least two other examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

How is the framing story of the stone's background an effective foundation for the author to build the rest of the action upon?

Essay Topic 3

The fact that Bao-yu eventually chooses to be with Bao-chai and not Dai-yu, his supposed predestined soulmate of the past and future, comes as a surprise. Discuss the reasons why the author would choose to take the narrative in this direction.

(see the answer keys)

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