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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 color robes do the priests from the Buddhist temple wear that are summoned for O-lan's funeral?

2. What is the name of the tea shop where Lotus lives as a prostitute?

3. What does Cuckoo demand as payment for Lotus to come and live with Wang Lung in Chapter 20?

4. Who stays with Wang Lung on his land before they depart to move into the townhouse in Chapter 29?

5. For how long does Wang Lung's soldier cousin stay in his house with the soldiers before departing for another war in Chapter 31?

Short Essay Questions

1. What leads Wang Lung to send his eldest sons away to school in Chapter 17?

2. What causes the flooding in Chapter 27? How does the flooding impact Wang Lung's village?

3. How is Lotus Flower described on the picture in the tea shop in Chapter 18?

4. How does Wang Lung's family go about relocating to the city in Chapter 29? Who is the last to leave the land?

5. What does Wang Lung's young cousin do that causes conflict in Wang Lung's house in Chapter 31?

6. How does Wang Lung go about arranging to purchase Lotus in Chapter 20?

7. Who looks after the arrangement of Wang Lung's second son's marriage in Chapter 29? How are the arrangements described?

8. What does O-lan say regarding Cuckoo as she lays dying in Chapter 26?

9. What decision does Wang Lung make regarding his second-eldest son in Chapter 25?

10. How does Wang Lung respond when O-lan warns him of his eldest son visiting Lotus in Chapter 24?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Wang Lung’s sons in the narrative. How are they similar? How are they different? What does Wang Lung expect from each of his sons? Who defies Wang Lung? How?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the marriage customs of early twentieth century China as seen in the novel. What were the expected roles of women and men? How were marriages arranged? How would you compare the gender roles established in this culture and society with your own?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author’s use of imagery, symbolism, and foreshadowing in The Good Earth. How well do you think the author creates a “vision” of its setting? What are examples of similes, metaphors, and onomatopoeia used in the narrative? How does the author employ foreshadowing to develop tension in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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