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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 is the alleged, but inaccurate, reason given for Jia Rui becoming ill?

2. According to the inscription on the stone, what has the stone once been?

3. What does Yu-cun do to the usher as a result of feeling uncomfortable around him?

4. From what country is the family this story is about?

5. Who performs Disenchantment's A Dream of Golden Days for Bao-yu?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is your opinion of Aroma's decision to allow Bao-yu to "have his way" with her following her discovery of his dream?

2. How does the author establish karma as a central theme in Chapter 1?

3. Upon their first meeting, do Bao-yu and Dai-yu feel a connection with each other? If so, how is it shown?

4. Why would Dai-yu find it strange that Xi-feng appears to be in charge of household affairs?

5. Explore the meaning/possible symbolism behind Bao-yu's experience in the dream in Chapter 5.

6. In what way does Dai-yu express her jealousy and somewhat obsessive attitude towards Bao-yu in the beginning of Chapter 9?

7. How does Bao-yu use family ties to his advantage during the events at the school?

8. Despite his limited presence, what becomes clear about Bao-yu during the first few episodes that involve him?

9. What can be understood from the events surrounding the situation at the school in regard to other school children making fun of the boys of the Jia clan?

10. How is the divide between rich and poor developed in Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The fact that Bao-yu eventually chooses to be with Bao-chai and not Dai-yu, his supposed predestined soulmate of the past and future, comes as a surprise. Discuss the reasons why the author would choose to take the narrative in this direction.

Essay Topic 2

How is the framing story of the stone's background an effective foundation for the author to build the rest of the action upon?

Essay Topic 3

What is the author's reasoning behind having such a large number of important and clearly defined characters? Illustrate your answer with examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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