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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. With what group is Tang Wenting associated?

2. Why is David in a hurry to get to Bashan?

3. Whom does David recognize at Cosgrove's auction?

4. What does Brian write in his diary two days before his disappearance?

5. Where does David tell Fitzwilliams some of the items to be auctioned originated?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Angela say about Brian's notebook? What does she think about his death? What does Hulan ask her to do?

2. How does Stuart feel about the dam project and why does he think it is a good project?

3. With whom does David meet at Cosgrove's? What does David tell this person? What is this person's response?

4. What does David learn from Brian's journal?

5. What does Stuart tell David about the ruyi, and what does David realize about Michael Quon?

6. How does Michael act during dinner with Hulan, and what does he talk about?

7. With what does Brian become obsessed, and what does he realize about the geographic layout of the land at Site 518?

8. What does Hulan say to Angela when she visits her again, and what does Angela say to Hulan's questions about when she arrived in China?

9. Where do Hulan and Michael go after lunch, and what does she hear? What does Michael do?

10. What does David show to Wu's widow? What do David and the widow do? What does she offer David?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Dragon Bones and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Dragon Bones is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Dragon Bones. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think See chooses the symbols she does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think See chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss See's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliff hangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Sandford use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 3

Dragon Bones, like most novels in the detective genre, involves police officers and police work. Discuss the following:

1. What are the characteristics of an effective police officer?

2. What additional characteristics does a police detective need?

3. Base upon the criteria in #1, 2 above, discuss the following characters and analyze whether you think they are effective police officers and/or detectives: Hulan, David, Hom, Zai, and Su.

(see the answer keys)

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