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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When a Gethenian becomes sexually active and finds a partner, what happens?
(a) Hormones kick in, and male genitalia develop.
(b) Hormones kick in, and both male and female genitalia develop.
(c) Hormones kick in, and female genitalia develop.
(d) Hormones kick in, and either male or female genitalia develop.

2. Shortly after Genly sends his letter to Tibe, Ashe visits him. What is the purpose of Ashe's visit?
(a) He wants Genly to take money to Estraven.
(b) He wants Genly to take him to Estraven.
(c) He wants to warn Genly that his life is in danger.
(d) He wants to invite Genly to dinner.

3. What is Genly Ai's mission?
(a) Genly's mission is to negotiate an alliance between Gethen and the Ekumen of Known Worlds.
(b) Genly's mission is to convince Gethen to leave the Ekumen of Known Worlds.
(c) Genly's mission is to encourage Erhenrang to secede from Karhide.
(d) Genly doesn't have a mission; he's just sightseeing.

4. Between which two domains is the blood feud in Chapter 9?
(a) The Domain of Karhide and the Domain of Orgoreyn.
(b) The Domain of Stok and the Domain of Estre.
(c) The Domain of Shath and the Domain of Stok.
(d) The Domain of Shath and the Domain of Estre.

5. Who finds Getheren on the ninth day after he leaves his homeland?
(a) The posse sent by the Lord of Hearth.
(b) Hode.
(c) No one; he dies of exposure as a result.
(d) The people of Orhoch Hearth.

6. What is the name of the Investigator who documents Gethenians' androgyny?
(a) Ong Tot Oppong.
(b) Tot Ong Oppong.
(c) Oppong Ong Tot.
(d) Oppong Tot Ong.

7. When Genly finally gets to Mishnory, whom does he find there?
(a) Estraven.
(b) Ashe.
(c) Prime Minister Tibe.
(d) King Argaven.

8. What are the important themes of Chapter 2?
(a) Breaking the law and exile.
(b) Marriage and divorce.
(c) Betrayal and hatred.
(d) Kemmering and love.

9. What is the Gethenians' mating cycle known as?
(a) Kemmer.
(b) Being in heat.
(c) Mating cycle.
(d) Libido.

10. Could the Foretellers answer the Lord of Shorth's question? What happened?
(a) No; they clubbed him to death to get out of answering it.
(b) Yes; however, the answer was never recorded and is lost to history.
(c) No; they said no one could possibly know that answer.
(d) Yes; they knew the answer, but refused to give it to him.

11. What is the purpose of Genly's meeting with the king?
(a) To ask permission to travel to Orgoreyn.
(b) To convince the king that he is an envoy from another planet, and to start a dialogue about Gethen becoming part of the Ekumen.
(c) To talk to the king about Estraven.
(d) To pledge kemmering to the king.

12. What important concept is brought up again in Chapter 10?
(a) Love and betrayal.
(b) Facade and veneer.
(c) Honesty and genuineness.
(d) Death and life.

13. What do the Commensals want to do with the information Genly gives to them during lunch?
(a) They want to send an assassin to kill Tibe.
(b) They want to have the Star Ship land in Orgota in order to bring prestige to themselves and the nation.
(c) They want to visit Genly's ship.
(d) They want to shoot down the NAFAL ship and kill Genly.

14. What news comes from Argaven's palace during the month of Kus?
(a) The King has vowed kemmer.
(b) The Queen is pregnant.
(c) The King is dying.
(d) The King is pregnant.

15. What does Genly learn during his lunch with the local politicians?
(a) He learns that his life is in danger.
(b) He learns that the King's child was born that morning, but survived less than an hour.
(c) He learns that Slose wants to make a religion out of him.
(d) He learns what the Sarf is.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the origin of the story told in Chapter 4?

2. What does Odren tell Lord Berosty's kemmering?

3. What happens to Estraven when he tries to leave Kuseben by boat?

4. What message does the king ask Genly to send to Hain using his communicator?

5. Is it possible for a Gethenian to change gender from one period of sexual activity to another?

(see the answer keys)

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