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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. Who does Zhen Shi-yin live with?

2. What feeling is Bao-yu filled with in his dream?

3. What belief about Qin-shi does Xi-feng reveal to You-shi?

4. Who starts to make regular visits to Qin-shi after the birthday party?

5. Grannie Liu first sees Xi-feng who makes the suggestion that these relatives don't visit because they find the Jias _____.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What events surrounding the trial in Chapter 4 illustrate further the Jia family's decline?

4. What can we understand from Zhen Shi-yin's dream in the first chapter?

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

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

7. Why does Xi-feng hush Bao-yu when he questions the drunken servant cursing the Jia family at the Ning house?

8. What can be understood from Chinese diplomatic culture when considering Bao-yu's meeting with Prince Qinzhong?

9. Although the Jia family throws a spectacular birthday party for Jia Jing even though he refuses to leave the monastery to attend, much of the conversation centers on Qin-shi's puzzling illness. Hypothesize as to why this is.

10. How does the story of Jia Rui teach a lesson about undue lust?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The central character of Bao-yu has a very clear arc of development. Discuss this with particular focus on the different levels of maturity that he attains and how he attains them.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the characters of Dai-yu and Bao-chai. How are they similar? How are they different?

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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