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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 Lin's new roommate when he gets tuberculosis?

2. While recapping her meeting with the commissar, Manna tells Lin Commissar Wei is more like a what than a warrior?

3. What does Lin observe about Ran Su's feet?

4. Why does Geng Yang ask Manna to come to his room?

5. When Lin and Manna break up, what does Lin do to occupy his time?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why won't Manna report her rape?

3. How does Manna begin to advance on Lin?

4. 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?

5. 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?

6. How does Lin share Manna's feelings about Geng Yang?

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

8. What makes Lin hesitate to divorce his wife?

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

10. Why does Shuyu's brother object to Lin's wish for a divorce?

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

Write an essay analyzing the narrative structure or "Waiting". Focus on the following:

- Its symmetry and organization.

- Its circular and recursive motion.

- Compare to traditional narrative structure (rising action, climax, falling action, etc.) and how "Waiting" breaks, uses, and redefines "structure".

Essay Topic 3

Early in the book, Lin has several daydreams and fantasies. Respond to the following questions:

- What do these dreams and fantasies say about Lin's innermost desires at the time?

- What are the parallels you can draw between his life in Part 3 and his fantasies in Part 1?

- What conclusions do you draw from Lin's reactions to getting what he wants and wanting what he can't have?

(see the answer keys)

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