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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Shonagon say the child who brought a letter to Tozammi's room looked like?
(a) A stick of bamboo.
(b) A basket worm.
(c) A cherub.
(d) A hototogisu.

2. What did Tadanobu say one was always sorry for in "It Was Late at Night?"
(a) Forgetting one's manners.
(b) A poorly written poem.
(c) Visiting the ladies-in-waiting.
(d) An inadvertent remark.

3. Which of these did Shonagon say gains by being painted?
(a) Yellow roses.
(b) People praised in romances as being beautiful.
(c) Autumn fields.
(d) Cherry blossoms.

4. What would make a player in a game of hidden rhymes look pleased with himself?
(a) His opponent's puzzlement.
(b) Ending the game in a tie.
(c) Finding the concealed character.
(d) A dinner bell before his defeat.

5. Who did the Empress suggest Shonagon ask for advice about how to respond to the package from Yukinari?
(a) The Emperor.
(b) Tadanobu.
(c) Niramitsu.
(d) Korenaka.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who said he/she would order the dancers to perform for the ladies-in-waiting after the Special Festival at Iwashimizu?

2. What was stuck into the pile of snow that Emperor Murakami ordered?

3. Who wanted Shonagon to teach her the terminology that Shonagon and Tadanobu used to talk in secret?

4. How many attendants helped the Shigei Sha with her ablutions?

5. Who did Shonagon say was especially likely to be confronted with shameful things if he was a light sleeper?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did the Empress say that she could understand why Shonagon would be particularly impressed by Tadanobu's finding the perfect lines to say at a gathering following a service for the late Chancellor?

2. Why did the priest tell the women to keep talking all night after overhearing their conversation about where the wood for the Chamberlains' batons come from and talking about the names of clothing?

3. Why did Tadanobu tell Nobukata about the secret code he and Shonagon spoke in?

4. Why was Shonagon uncertain of how to reply to Yukinari's gift of square cakes?

5. Why did Shonagon want to change places with the woman she met on her way up the hill to the Upper Shrine?

6. Why did Shonagon say that no one pays attention to a Palace Chaplain when he walks by?

7. Why was Shonagon concerned about having to write the opening lines to a few lines of poetry she received when Kinto was present?

8. Why was Shonagon impressed when the Empress guessed that the cherry blossoms had been ruined by the rain?

9. Why did Shonagon say festivals held near the palace were distant but near?

10. Why was Shonagon so impressed with Michinaga's obeisance to the Chancellor?

(see the answer keys)

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