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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 does Lin go to visit Hua and Shuyu at the match plant?

2. What does Manna decide to do if she is pregnant?

3. What do the women at the hair salon say about Lin for wanting to divorce Shuyu?

4. What also happens as the twins' dysentery is cured?

5. When Lin notices how sick Manna looks, what does he compare her to?

Short Essay Questions

1. What about Ran Su's blessing makes Manna so upset?

2. Why does Lin think he and Manna shouldn't make love so much?

3. Why would Manna Kill herself if she were pregnant?

4. What does Lin think is the effect of Manna's suffering?

5. Do people in the hospital view Shuyu as a joke?

6. How does Lin realize the reason he hasn't received a promotion in ten years?

7. What are the double standards of blame in Chapter 10?

8. Why does Manna wish she had a daughter like Hua?

9. How does Lin feel about being a father?

10. Is Lin going to leave Manna?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the parallels between the characters and the political context of China. What do the characters represent about the evolving political organization of China? What role do Chinese politics play in the lives of the characters?

Essay Topic 3

Pick one of the following positions to argue in an essay:

- Manna is the appropriate wife for Lin.

- Shuyu is the appropriate wife for Lin.

(see the answer keys)

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