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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. Why does the Magistrate let the boys go with no punishment?

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

3. Why are the examinees searched?

4. What does Hong make sure of in Chongqing?

5. What does Hong promise Fei Qun?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Hong do while Chen is taking his exam?

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

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

6. What town do the brothers reach after leaving Ma's home, what do they do and of what does Hong make certain?

7. How does Hong's match turn out?

8. What does Ye Pan tell Hong when Hong gives him the letter? What does he invite Hong to do?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Many events that happen in "The Examination" are foreshadowed by previous events and/or signs. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "foreshadow."

2. Why would an author use foreshadowing? Do you think it adds or detracts from your experience as a reader? Explain.

3. Trace and analyze five instances of foreshadowing in "The Examination". Match up what is mentioned earlier and what it foreshadows. Did you guess that each instance of foreshadowing was a "heads up" of something to come? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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