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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 does Yun suggest that Shen Fu take in order to create a powder which can then fill in the cracks of other stones?

2. What does Shen Fu always have on his desk when he was living at home, according to the book?

3. What does Yun leave for Shen Fu up until the day of their wedding day, something that gets her mocked by others?

4. One of the largest empires in the world was led by men who knew more about the _______ of a thousand years before than about the tax law.

5. What are Shen Fu and Yu living adjacent to when they live near the old woman?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the therapy that Shen Fu receives for his most unfortunate injury, according to the book?

2. Why does Shen Fu take up so much time talking about the arrangement of pots and cases? What is he trying to do for the plants?

3. Why are Shen Fu's failings described as falling into the category of provision for his family?

4. What does Shen Fu describe doing when he was a child when he was lying on the grass?

5. What it the task which Wan Tsai-chang completed, which makes him the only person that Shen Fu knows to have done such a thing?

6. What are three things which Shen Fu gives instructions on when he is talking about plants and caring for plants?

7. How does Shen Fu describe the cleverness of Yun when he talks about her life and her upbringing?

8. Why does the teacher send Shen Fu home in order to write his compositions for school, according to the book?

9. Why do Shen Fu and Yun want to be reincarnated to be with each other in their next life? What do they hope to achieve?

10. What did Yun's family laugh at her for which made her sheepish in the days leading up to her wedding with Shen Yu?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

According to the Introduction of the book, there is some dissent over whether this book is accurate or whether other transcripts have been written by the author.

Part 1: Do you feel that missing some of the book passages reduces your enjoyment of the book?

Part 2: Why do you think it's important to some readers that the text of a book be 100% accurate?

Part 3: How do you feel when you find out that a book is not completely accurate in its storytelling?

Essay Topic 2

Shen Fu's family continues to berate Yun, subtly referring to her as one of Shen Fu's many wives, though this is not the situation.

Part 1: Why do you think Shen Fu's family feels it is okay to berate Yun?

Part 2: How do you think you might react if you were Shen Fu and you heard your family attack Yun?

Part 3: Do you think a family should have the right to berate another member of the family?

Essay Topic 3

For a while, Shen Fu considers the life of a monk and a life of solitude, though he realizes that community is not for him.

Part 1: Why do you think Shen Fu wanted to have the life of solitude at one time?

Part 2: Do you think you would enjoy a life of solitude if it were possible for you?

Part 3: What are some of the benefits of living a solitude life, a life of prayer and devotion?

(see the answer keys)

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