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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 nickname has Lao Chen earned?

2. What does Shen praise in his talk with Chen?

3. Who is Hong observing to decide if the man can be trusted?

4. With what does Lao Chen show a remarkable ability when very young?

5. What does Chen ask Shen Ding one night?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is suspicious of the brothers, why and what does he intend to do?

2. What does Shen Ding explain to Chen about the grading of the exams?

3. Who has tutored Chen and what type of examinations has he passed at the beginning of the book? What is he now called in China?

4. What does Shen Ding advise Chen to do on the last day of the exam, what does Chen decide to do and why?

5. How does Hong eventually feel about Lin Shi and what happens to Lin Shi?

6. How does Hong intend to help his brother Chen, and what are the names of his two crickets?

7. From where is Chen returning on a cart and on what is he thinking?

8. What concerns Hong about Chen while they are staying at Ma's home?

9. What happens as the brothers leave Ma's home?

10. What did Chen need in order to take the first examination and how did he get it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Women are not equals with men in China in the 12th century. Discuss the following:

1. Define the term "gender."

2. Discuss the Chinese cultural definitions of gender gender during the era of "The Examination" and the expectations for each gender. Do any of those expectations exist today?

3. Would you like to live in a culture that has those expectations for men and women that are revealed in "The Examination"? Discuss fully with examples from the text.

4. Are women the only ones harmed by gender-based expectations? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of "The Examination" and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of "The Examination" and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot of "The Examination"?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Chen and Hong leave their father and proceed on a journey so that Chen can take examinations and obtain a good position in life. In a number of their stops Chen and Hong are both faced with making a decision to stay or continue on the journey.

1. Do you think it is moral for both boys to leave their father alone? Why or why not? Use examples from "The Examination" and your own life to support your answer.

2. Why do you think Hong has given up time in his own life to assist his brother in his brother's quest? Use examples from "The Examination" and your own life to support your answer.

3. What do you think the decisions that Hong and Chen make in their journey says about their characters? Discuss their determination, temptations and decisions in depth. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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