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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. As they are standing in the square waiting for Ti-sen to be sentenced, whom does Dirk stop from talking to the crowd?

2. What office does Dirk plan to run for?

3. What time does Dirk leave the ball to go see May-may?

4. What is in the kerchief that Scragger's son gives Dirk?

5. Who does Dirk find lying dead in his bed?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Dirk feel about the way Culum solves the problem of the knoll?

2. What does Sarah tell Dirk about Robb's last message to him?

3. Why does Brock plan to replace his clipper ships with steam-powered ships?

4. Why doesn't Dirk want to move their operations out of Happy Valley?

5. Why does Dirk have to be very careful when he travels to visit Jin-qua?

6. How does Gordon Chen build up the Hung Mun in Hong Kong?

7. Why do the Chinese consider Ti-sen a traitor?

8. If Dirk is unable to save his company, what will become of Brock and why does the outcome bother Dirk?

9. When Brock is dressing for the ball, what does he try to hide from Liza?

10. After finding May-may dressed in a ball gown with her hair styled like an English woman's, what does Dirk do to restore her dignity?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Tyler Brock fit the role of antagonist in this novel? Is he the only antagonist? If so, why? If not, who else can be seen as an antagonist and why?

Essay Topic 2

Dirk takes many calculated risks throughout the course of the novel. What are the risks he takes? Are his risks wise or foolish? In other words, does Dirk succeed through luck or through shrewd business sense? Why?

Essay Topic 3

There are several instances of symbolism in Tai-Pan, such as the half coins and the relationship between Dirk and May-may. Discuss the presence of symbolism in the novel, including what the symbols are and what they stand for.

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This section contains 609 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample