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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. Who is Yao?

2. What does Chen tell Hong about the time of his captivity with the pirates?

3. Why do the two men leave Hong?

4. Who is impressed by Chen's robes?

5. Why does Hong say he cannot see Chen as a magistrate?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where is Hong taken by the pirates, who does he meet and what does that person tell him?

2. What happens as Hong is with the army about Wang Chih and the outpost where he was held?

3. What happens when Hong visits a fortune teller?

4. What does Hong decide to do after Chen takes a position and what does Sun Qi give Hong?

5. What happens with Hong after he receives the message from Tang?

6. Why is General Ma disappointed about Hong and what does he invite Hong to do?

7. How is Hong going to get a message from Tang Wangai?

8. What does Chen do that ends his friendship with Yuying and what does she do about it?

9. How far do the brothers take the Grand Canal, and what are they told at the end of it? What do they decide to do about the information?

10. What do the brothers decide to do when they leave the army, who do they meet and how does Chen feel about him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Lao Chen is no exception. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Chen demonstrates his prodigious powers intellect. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Chen's character flaws offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion.

3. Discuss how you think Chen's admirable traits helped him obtain a high position in the government despite his background as a child. Have his flaws impacted his career at all? Do any of those around him seem to notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "The Examination" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "The Examination" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

At the conclusion of a novel, most readers either consciously or unconsciously engage in processing the book and usually come to a conclusion as to whether they like the book or not. Discuss one of the following:

1. Would you consider "The Examination" a "good" book? An interesting or enlightening book? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What do you think are the elements of an outstanding novel? Analyze one of your favorite novels to see if those elements are present.

3. What are some reasons you might consider a novel a failure? Analyze a novel you think is a failure and see if those elements are in that novel.

(see the answer keys)

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