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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. When Lin returns to the hospital after failing to ask his wife for a divorce he tells Manna he is too what to spend time with her?

2. Why does Haiyan think Lin refuses to take the opportunity to use her sister's house?

3. What unnerves Manna about Geng Yang when she sees him at the bus stop?

4. What does Liang Meng give as his reason for staying in Muji City for the summer?

5. Why does Geng Yang think Lin should sleep with Manna?

Short Essay Questions

1. What draws and repels Manna and Liang Meng to and from each other?

2. Why is Lin concerned that Bensheng invites Ren to his house?

3. What is the crowd at the courthouse defending when they are scolding Lin?

4. What does Lin's daydream about the nurses say about him?

5. What dilemmas do Shuyu's feet make for Lin?

6. When Lin shows Manna the photo of his wife and daughter, what upset does it bring to their relationship? What solace does it bring to Manna?

7. What makes Lin hesitate to divorce his wife?

8. Why does Lin think an attempt to pay Shuyu or Bensheng for a divorce would fail?

9. Although a relationship between Manna and Liang Meng is Lin's idea, what is his attitude? Why?

10. How is Lin painted to be at fault through Chapter 9?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about honesty and dishonesty answering the following questions:

- How do characters lie to each other?

- How do characters lie to themselves?

- What effect does honesty have on their lives?

- Which holds characters and relationships together best: lies or honesty?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss how Lin's children become some of the most relevant characters in his life. Respond to the following questions:

- What do each of his children provide for Lin?

- What do they represent about Lin's relationships with their mothers?

- What greater symbols do they offer to the book?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the relevance of women versus men in "Waiting." Argue the statement Ha Jin is making about gender, using the following ideas:

- Emotional tendencies of men or women in relationships.

- Self awareness, idealism, control, impressionability, vulnerability.

- Selfishness and selflessness.

(see the answer keys)

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