Chimerica Quizzes

Chimerica Quiz Act One

1 How does the play open?
Joe adjusting his camera

"Ode to Joy" playing over darkness

Zhang Lin climbing onto the tank

On a still image of the Tank Man photo
2 Why is Joe able to take the iconic Tank Man photograph?
He brought a film camera, not digital

Because of his close relationship with Zhang Lin, he is permitted to take the photo

He is the only American left in China

He is on the sixth floor of a Beijing hotel overlooking Tiananmen Square
3 How does Joe smuggle his photographs out of China?
He is protected by American free speech laws

He hides the film roles in the hotel toilet cistern

He smuggles the photographs in his underwear

The police officer is sympathetic to his cause and lets him go
4 What is Joe's profession when he is nineteen?
He is a wedding photographer for Chinese couples

He is a photojournalist for an American newspaper

He is an unemployed backpacker traveling through Asia

He is a foreign exchange student studying Mandarin
5 What detail does Joe immediately notice about the Tank Man?
He is wearing a police uniform

He is much younger than Joe

He is extremely thin, like he is starving

The tank man is carrying shopping bags
6 Why does Tess Kendrick travel to Beijing?
She is doing research on Chinese consumer markets

She is an English professor at Peking University

She is a journalist covering Chinese politics

She is married to a Chinese man
7 Which words best describe Mel's personality?
Misogynistic and abrasive

Thoughtful and polite

Reserved and intellectual

Grounded yet idealistic
8 How do Joe and Tess connect on the flight?
Joe and Tess realize they went to the same high school and reminisce

Tess is excited that Joe took the Tank Man photograph, which she has framed on her wall

They discuss their shared love of Ella Fitzgerald

Tess is scared of flying, and Joe holds her hand
9 Where does Joe tour in Beijing?
The Beijing Museum of Modern Art

The plastics factory run by Zhang Lin's brother

The Great Wall of China

The darkroom of famous Chinese photographer, Zhang Wei
10 What is Zhang Lin carrying when he meets Joe?
English textbooks

A film camera

Two grocery bags

A present for Joe
11 What do Zhang Lin's "crazy English" lessons entail?
Combining Chinese and English vocabulary

Screaming empowering English phrases at the sky

Speaking gibberish to familiarize oneself with English pronunciation

Reciting Dr. Seuss books
12 While visiting Zhang Lin, how does Joe demonstrate his limited understanding of China?
He insists on interviewing workers in the plastics factory and takes their photographs without asking permission

He eats with a fork instead of chopsticks and orders water with ice in it

He tries to photograph the Beijing Hotel and pushes Zhang Lin to discuss the Tank Man

He loudly questions the air quality reports while in a public place
13 What troubling behavior does Zhang Lin demonstrate while meeting with Joe?
He covers the security camera lenses in his apartment

He lies about trivial matters

He drinks all day

He loudly scolds his brother in front of Joe
14 What unfulfilled promise does Joe make Zhang Lin?
To offer Mary Chang a job

To help Benny, Zhang Lin's nephew who plans to move to New York

To marry Zhang Lin for a green card

To give up his search for the Tank Man
15 How does Frank insist Joe spin the Tank Man story?
As a frame story for the presidential election

As an obituary for all "Unknown Heroes"

As a pro-American propaganda piece

As an anti-communist tragedy
16 What macabre slogan directs Joe's work as a photojournalist?
"Dead men tell no tales"

"If it bleeds, it leads"

"War is the best backdrop"

"Sex sells"
17 What evidence does Doreen present that confirms the Tank Man is dead?
An ad in a Chinese newspaper commemorating Wang Pengfei, the "Unsong Hero"

An article by former Beijing correspondent Paul Kramer

An archival photograph of the Tank Man's dead body

An official statement by the Chinese government that the Tank Man was executed
18 Why is Paul Kramer's article unreliable?
Paul could not speak Mandarin at the time and likely misunderstood his sources

Paul was under pressure by the Party to confirm the Tank Man's death

Paul was using party drugs when he wrote the piece

Paul did not write the article, though it bears his name
19 Why do Joe and Tess meet at a Chinese restaurant?
Both want to practice their conversational Mandarin

Tess has information about the Tank Man's whereabouts

Tess wants to buy one of Joe's photographs for use on a credit card

They go on a date
20 Why does Joe refuse to sell his photograph to Tess?
Tess's offer is too low

The image depicts two children fishing in a polluted river, and he does not want to make money off of human suffering

Joe plans to publish the image in Frank's newspaper

The image shows Zhang Lin's face, and Joe doesn't want to get his friend in trouble
21 What does Zhang Lin record on his laptop?
His confessions of crimes he committed as a soldier

Audio of Ming Xiaoli coughing

A love letter to Liuli

His recollections of the 1989 protests
22 According to Liuli, why does Zhang Lin's family call him "Dog-face"?
Because he is "still a little baby"

Because he goes against the family's wishes by marrying Liuli

Because he acts like an "American dog"

Because he is ugly
23 Who appears in Zhang Lin's room after Zhang Wei leaves?
Liuli, wearing a red version of her dress

Zhang Lin's mother, to discourage him from reaching out to Joe

The PSB, to search his apartment for incriminating evidence

Ming Xiaoli, to watch television shows
24 Why does Zhang Wei disapprove of Zhang Lin's relationship with Ming Xiaoli?
He worries Zhang Lin will catch Ming Xiaoli's infection

He dislikes Xiaoli's affiliation with the Party

He thinks Zhang Lin is moving on too fast from Liuli

He thinks their age difference is inappropriate
25 How does the tone of Joe's storyline contrast with the tone of Zhang Lin's?
Joe's story is a romantic drama, whereas Zhang Lin's story is nostalgic

Joe's story is tragic, whereas Zhang Lin's story is played for comedy

Joe's story is an exciting mystery, whereas Zhang Lin's story is depressing and hopeless

Joe's story is surreal, whereas Zhang Lin's story is grounded

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