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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 do Joy and Z. G. do in Canton?

2. What happens three months after Z. G. leaves the commune?

3. What requires that every pair of hands work nonstop?

4. What is beginning to hit the city?

5. What do Pearl's housemates do when Pearl is out of the house one day?

Short Essay Questions

1. What contest does the Brigade leader announce and how does the contest contribute to the food shortage?

2. What does Joy say in a letter to Pearl, and what is Pearl's reaction?

3. What does Pearl find has arrived one day after returning from work?

4. What about the package from Joy confuses Pearl, and who understands the message?

5. Why does Pearl apply for a travel visa?

6. Why does Tao's mother send Joy to the birthing house and what is the outcome?

7. About what does everyone worry on the commune and what does Tao's family do to try to fend off the anticipated problem?

8. What crop is to be planted the following year and why is this a poor decision?

9. What does the brigade leader say about Yong, and what does he make Yong do?

10. What sort of horrors do Z.G. and Pearl see when they are driving to the village?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Dreams of Joy".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Dreams of Joy". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "Dreams of Joy". How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "Dreams of Joy" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "Dreams of Joy"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "Dreams of Joy" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 3

Joy takes a ship to China. On board, she attempts to changes some of her American dollars into Chinese Yuan with the help of the captain. The captain pockets more than half of her money before changing over the rest. Joy is shocked, but understands that the ways of China are far different than they are in the States. At 8:00 am. Joy arrives at Chinese passport control. She repeats some of the propaganda mottoes she learned at the Chinese Student Democratic Association, assuring the agent that she's here to help build the People's Republic. The agent allows her to enter the country, but not before he confiscates her American passport. Then he takes Joy to have her bags searched. They remove many "bourgeois" items from Joy's luggage, including her brassieres. The luggage inspector pockets half of Joy's cash and then poses for a picture with her to be hung on the Comrade Wall of returned Chinese.

1. Why do you think the government of a country would allow such blatant misuse of power in stealing from individuals? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Why do you think the Chinese government maintains the Comrade Wall of returned Chinese? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. Discuss in depth what you think Joy should have been thinking after losing so much of her money and having her passport retained? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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