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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 much do each of the eggs cost that Wang Lung purchases after his son is born?

2. Where is a tailor coming from to tend to the daughter of the House of Hwang for her her upcoming wedding in Chapter 5?

3. What color are eggs died to celebrate when Wang Lung has a son in Chapter 3?

4. From whom has Wang Lung bought a leg of pork that hangs in his house in Chapter 4?

5. How much does the fellow traveler tell Wang Lung the sleeping mats cost in the city in Chapter 11?

Short Essay Questions

1. What causes Wang Lung to finally decide to take his family to the city in the south in Chapter 9?

2. What conflict does Wang Lung encounter at the barber's in Chapter 1?

3. What conflict occurs between Wang Lung and his aunt in Chapter 7?

4. How do Wang Lung's circumstances during the winter differ from those of his uncle in Chapter 4?

5. What leads to Wang Lung purchasing more land from the House of Hwang in Chapter 8?

6. What actions are taken after O-lan gives birth to a son in Chapter 4? Why?

7. What does Wang Lung's father complain about in Chapter 1?

8. Describe O-lan's actions when she comes to Wang Lung's home. How does Wang Lung perceive his wife?

9. What preparations does Wang Lung make when he returns to his land in Chapter 15?

10. Where do Wang Lung and O-lan go on the second day of the New Year in Chapter 5?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the characters of Wang Lung’s uncle and aunt in The Good Earth. How does Wang Lung differ as a farmer and a businessman from his uncle? How does Wang Lung’s aunt differ from O-lan? Are these characters likable? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and analyze the character of Wang Lung as the protagonist of The Good Earth. How old is Wang Lung when his character is first introduced? How old is he when the novel ends? How does Wang Lung change in the course of the novel? What are Wang Lung’s main objectives in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the themes of superstition, faith, and luck in The Good Earth. What symbolism relates to these themes? What color is symbolic for fortune and luck to Wang Lung? How are these themes developed through character and setting in the novel?

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