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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. Where are Chen and Ding's names on the list that is first posted?

2. Why are Chen and Hong in the custody of the magistrate?

3. Who are Fire Star and Dragon Legs?

4. Who is Lin Shi?

5. What is the third son sometimes called?

Short Essay Questions

1. Give a brief description of the two boys, Lao Hong and Lao Chen.

2. Who visits Chen before he leaves and what does he ask?

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

4. What has Hong heard about locust, what is his concern and how does Chen respond to that concern?

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

6. What is waiting for Chen when he arrives home and who has done it for him?

7. Where and with whom do the boys live, and why is their life style less than it should be?

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

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

10. What happens after Chen is shown to his testing cubicle?

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

The scholars are asked to write on a single question, supposedly composed by the emperor himself. The question is "What does 'good' mean in the social order?" Chen is torn, because his own personal experiences seem to conflict with what he has learned through scholarship. He begins to write about his own experiences from his journey, but changes his mind and composes an essay on what makes a good leader.

1. Why do you think Chen's experience on his journey might conflict with his academic knowledge? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Why do you think Chen's experiences might be a good answer to the question about good? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. What influence do you think a good leader has on social order? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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