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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does a grocer advise Chen after the second session of exams?
(a) To get his brother to watch his books for him.
(b) To eat a hardy breakfast before going to the last day of exams.
(c) To get a good night's sleep rather than trying to study.
(d) Not to trust advice from others about passing the exams.

2. What does Ye Pan give Hong before Hong leaves?
(a) Letters.
(b) Nothing.
(c) Food.
(d) Coins.

3. What has Bao taken upon herself to do?
(a) Find a husband for her younger sister.
(b) Care for her father and brothers.
(c) Find a wife for Chen.
(d) Send Chen to Hunan.

4. Who is Zhu Tong?
(a) A retired soldier.
(b) The schoolmaster in the village.
(c) The provincial manager.
(d) A retired monk.

5. What did Lao Chen learn by age four?
(a) To play the ruan.
(b) More Chinese characters than most adults ever learn.
(c) To play the guzheng.
(d) To write perfect haiku.

6. What does the Magistrate decide to do to find out if the boys are who they say?
(a) Quiz Chen.
(b) Torture Hong.
(c) Torture Chen.
(d) Search their belongings.

7. What does Fei Qun ask of the person he visits?
(a) To talk to Bao about marriage.
(b) Nothing; he's just saying goodbye.
(c) To take a letter with him.
(d) To apprentice to him as the next school master.

8. What does Lin Shi refuse to believe?
(a) That Hong is a member of the White Lotus.
(b) That Chen is a member of the White Lotus.
(c) That Hong and Chen are on their way to Beijing.
(d) That Hong and Chen are cousins.

9. How old is Lao Hong?
(a) 5.
(b) 18.
(c) 15.
(d) 12.

10. What does Chen need that was difficult to get?
(a) A certification as to his schooling.
(b) Nothing.
(c) Money to pay for the examination.
(d) A recommendation from someone with a good reputation.

11. Why do the two boys intend to go there?
(a) So Chen can take the provincial exams.
(b) To find a bride for Chen.
(c) To find a bride for their younger sister.
(d) To light candles for their mother in the temple.

12. How is Hong affected by what happens on the treacherous stretch of the river?
(a) He is deeply grieved.
(b) He gets depressed.
(c) He is excited about a new adventure as they off load.
(d) He does not seem affected.

13. What happens when the ship is traveling on an especially treacherous stretch of the river?
(a) The first mate falls overboard and drowns.
(b) The ship springs a leak and they have to off load.
(c) Lin Shi's daughter is knocked overboard.
(d) Lin Shi is knocked overboard.

14. Why are the examinees searched?
(a) To make sure they are carrying any bribe money.
(b) To see if they are male.
(c) For cheating materials.
(d) To see if they are carrying any more ink than they are allowed.

15. Why is Bao angry with Hong?
(a) For not giving his father any of his winnings.
(b) For being disrespectful to the elderly neighbor.
(c) For working so hard in the rice paddies.
(d) For refusing to meet the bride she has found for him.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do Hong and Lu think is unlikely?

2. What is Chen able to do that surprises the Magistrate?

3. To whom does Zhu Tong speak as an equal?

4. What does the magistrate not believe?

5. Where do Chen and Hong tell Lao Lu they intend to go?

(see the answer keys)

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