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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is Ye Pan?
(a) The man who is sharing Hong and Chen's quarters.
(b) A puppeteer Hong meets.
(c) The man to whom Hong must deliver a letter.
(d) The official overseeing the exams.

2. Who is Weijun?
(a) A young woman whose father wishes Chen to marry.
(b) Chen's new mentor in Beijing.
(c) Hong's contact in Wuhan.
(d) A farmer who offers Hong and Chen a place to stay for a night.

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

4. Where is the person to get the letter living?
(a) Weng.
(b) Suzhou.
(c) Beijing.
(d) Chezong.

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

6. What does Landlord Ma offer in order to convince Chen to marry his daughter?
(a) Money.
(b) Prestige.
(c) Land.
(d) Access to a huge library.

7. About what is Chen thinking as he returns to his home?
(a) He is sleeping.
(b) The test coming up next December.
(c) Books and poetry.
(d) Staying afloat on the water.

8. What does Chen decide about Confucius?
(a) He would not approve of trying to bribe someone.
(b) He would not sit for these exams.
(c) He would think bribing is acceptable.
(d) He would not pass these exams.

9. Why are Chen and Hong in the custody of the magistrate?
(a) He thinks the letter Chen is carrying is about treason.
(b) He is suspicious of Chen being a charlaton.
(c) He thinks the letter Hong is carrying is about treason.
(d) Someone said the boys were taking rice out of the paddies.

10. Why does the Magistrate let the boys go with no punishment?
(a) He feels sorry for them since their father is a drunk.
(b) He receives a letter from the village mayor.
(c) He is convinced Chen is a scholar.
(d) He does not let them go.

11. Where do Chen and Hong tell Lao Lu they intend to go?
(a) Beijing.
(b) Jaoung.
(c) Chengdu.
(d) Szechan.

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

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

14. Why does Chen stay outside the hall after Ding leaves?
(a) To see if his name is in the top five announced separately.
(b) To wait for Hong.
(c) To congratulate several of the men.
(d) To ask an examiner a question.

15. What does Hong worry about as he and Chen are walking?
(a) The locusts he sees on the crops.
(b) Whether Chen will listen to him.
(c) The many soldiers on the road.
(d) The many old men and women who are beggars.

Short Answer Questions

1. To what does the story flashback?

2. Where are the highest government exams taken?

3. What people are banned from taking the exam again forever?

4. Why does Chen accede to his school master's request?

5. What is the third son sometimes called?

(see the answer keys)

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