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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 is the base chief engineer who introduces himself to Ye Wenjie in the beginning of Chapter 3, "Red Coast I"?

2. Who launched the Planck satellite, according to the narrator in Chapter 9, "The Universe Flickers"?

3. Whom did Ye Wenjie marry?

4. What was the codename for China's first test of a three-staged thermonuclear device?

5. Who is Ye Zhetai's wife in the narrative?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Shao Lin and what is revealed about her character in Chapter 1, "The Madness Years"?

2. Where does Ye Wenjie go after her father's death? Why?

3. How does Bai Mulin betray Ye Wenjie? Why does he betray her?

4. What happens when the Stable Era begins in the Three Body game in Chapter 11, "Three Body: Mozi and Fiery Flames"?

5. When did the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution take place? Why is it important in The Three-Body Problem?

6. What is the "microwave background" and how is it described in Chapter 9, "The Universe Flickers"?

7. What setting is described when Wang logs onto the Three Body game in Chapter 11, "Three Body: Mozi and Fiery Flames"?

8. What imagery is described when Wang looks at the sky using the 3K glasses in Chapter 9, "The Universe Flickers"?

9. What satellites are described in Chapter 9, "The Universe Flickers"?

10. What setting is established in Chapter 9, "The Universe Flickers"? How is it described?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the character of Captain Shi Qiang in The Three-Body Problem. How does Wang Miao know Shi? What is their relationship like? What role does Shi play in the plot of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the narrative and language styles in The Three-Body Problem. How well do you think the translator brings the story to life in English? What are your impressions of the technical language in the novel? How poetic is the language?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of extremism in The Three-Body Problem. What are some examples of extremism seen in the main characters? What are the repercussions of extremism? How does the author explore this theme through symbolism and imagery?

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