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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 does Lin's cousin ask for in his letter?

2. At the holiday banquet, what does Lin warn Manna not to do so much?

3. Why does manna ask to be left behind to die during the hospital camp-and-field training?

4. When Liang Meng and Manna meet alone in the city, whose poetry does he quote?

5. After Lin's father dies, how do his feelings about his wife and marriage change?

Short Essay Questions

1. What makes Lin hesitate to divorce his wife?

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

3. Why does Manna help Lin put dust covers on his books?

4. Why is Manna more embarrassed than heartbroken at Commissar Wei's rejection?

5. Since Manna and Lin broke up, what has Manna been doing to spite Lin? How does this reach its climax in Chapter 10?

6. What is the relationship Manna Wu invents between Lin Kong and Pinging Ma? Why does Manna think Pingping is more appealing to Lin than she is?

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

8. Why doesn't Geng Yang cry during "The Flower Girl?" What conclusion does Manna draw about him?

9. Why does Lin discourage Manna from joining any of the revolutionary parties in the hospital?

10. Why is Manna hesitant to become engaged to Mai Dong before her graduation? What is their deciding factor in holding off their engagement?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The discretion in "Waiting" is completely symmetrical: three parts with twelve chapters each. Write an essay discussing the relevance of how and when the book is divided, why this is, and what the organization reveals about the narrative, characters, and themes, and how it assists them.

Essay Topic 2

Lin has a duplicitous personality. Analyze his character using the three following characteristics of Lin:

- Lin's need to please.

- Lin's superiority complex.

- Lin's inferiority complex.

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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