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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 does Chen worry about concerning the customs officers?

2. Why did Chen go to from where he is returning?

3. What is the relation between Lao Hong and Lao Chen?

4. What people are banned from taking the exam again forever?

5. Who is Gao Shi?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What does Hong do while Chen is receiving his award?

6. 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?

7. What surprises Hong when the boys leave on their journey and how does Chen feel about it?

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

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

10. What does Chen promise his father and what is the likelihood of him keeping that promise?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think "The Examination" is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

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 one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of "The Examination". Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of this novel. What are those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in "The Examination"? Which theme in the book speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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