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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. Why were the students at the cadre school in Liyuzhou not enthused about their prospects there?

2. What was Lao Tang's concern after being criticized for his membership in Liang Xiao?

3. What did Lao Tang's mother send to augment his diet?

4. What was the Red Guard?

5. What effect had the harsh cold of the Dedu county winters had on Tang Dan?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which children were admitted into New Beida?

2. What was Liang Xiao? What was its purpose?

3. Why was schistosomiasis a danger for those working in rice paddies?

4. Why was Lao Tang uneasy about national recognition of his work with Liang Xiao?

5. Why was the educational level of college age youth lower in 1970?

6. Why had Lao Tang not left Liang Xiao?

7. Why were Chairman Mao's instructions to unite and return to classes ineffective?

8. Why were members of the intellectual community resentful of Liang Xiao?

9. Why was Yue Daiyun apprehensive when Tang Dan decided to go into the army?

10. What astonished Lao Tang more than evidence of Lin Biao's reactionary viewpoint?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many of the campaigns described in this book are designated with numbers. These include The Four Clean-Ups, the Three Separations, etc. In your essay, give several examples of these movements and your opinion about why they are numbered in this way.

Essay Topic 2

A central argument among the shifting power groups in this memoir is the question of whether democracy is a tool to eventually establish communism, or communism is a tool leading to the eventual establishment of democracy. Discuss the meaning and differences between these two points of view.

Essay Topic 3

What differences do you see between the administration of sanctions in China and in other countries? Who determines who is at fault? Who determines the punishment? What effect do those differences have on Yue Daiyun and her family?

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