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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 important event is the Prince of Bei-jing present for?

2. What does Yuan-chun remind the family of as she departs from the garden?

3. In Xi-feng's dream, why is Qin-shi concerned about the family falling on hard times?

4. What does Jia-lian use as his bedroom while his daughter is ill?

5. Where does the funeral procession for Qin-shi finally arrive?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Shui Rong's impression of Bao-yu?

2. For what reason(s) might Bao-yu have become discontented living in the Prospect Garden?

3. How is Qin-shi's honor and devotion to family seen before she dies?

4. How is the relationship between Bao-yu and his servants developed in the events after Yuan-chun's visit?

5. Why is Dai-yu overcome with grief as she listens to the words of the actresses rehearsing in the garden?

6. What can be understood from the relationship between Qin Zhong and Sappy?

7. How do the servants of the house react to Qin-shi's death?

8. Why do the children move into the Prospect Garden?

9. What facets of the relationships between masters/mistresses and servants are shown in the conflict between Jia Lian, Xi-feng, and Patience?

10. How does Xiang-yun's presence lead Bao-yu to think more highly of Bao-chai?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the significance of illness to the story? Discuss with at least three examples and why the author chooses to make these characters ill.

Essay Topic 2

Explore the ways the author illustrates the divide between poor classes and rich classes in the novel and the various grey areas surrounding that divide.

Essay Topic 3

Is the author justified in ending the novel with a cliffhanger? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,060 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample