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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the purpose of the parade upon which Chapter 1 opens?
(a) It celebrates the King's ascension to the throne.
(b) It celebrates the Karhide Independence Day.
(c) It celebrates the completion of the Arch of River Gate.
(d) It celebrates Genly's arrival.

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

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

4. On what day of the month is Genly allowed to visit the Nine Foretellers and ask his question?
(a) Onnetherhad, the 19th.
(b) Odstreth, the 19th.
(c) Onnetherhad, the 18th.
(d) Odstreth, the 18th.

5. After leaving Kuseben, where does Estraven first land?
(a) Mishnory.
(b) Shelt Port, Orgoreyn.
(c) The Orgny Fastness.
(d) The Gulf of Charisune.

6. Where does Estraven find employment in his new home?
(a) He lives on a commune and helps with field labor and gardening.
(b) He remains unemployed and dependent on charity.
(c) He works in the ice-houses, packing fish.
(d) He works as an orderly in the hospital.

7. What does Genly think the reason for Tibe's frequent radio appearances is?
(a) Genly thinks Tibe is trying to help convince Karhide to become part of the Ekumen.
(b) Genly thinks Tibe is trying to incite war with Orgoreyn.
(c) Genly thinks Tibe is going insane.
(d) Genly thinks Tibe is trying to overthrow the King.

8. Is it possible for a Gethenian to change gender from one period of sexual activity to another?
(a) No.
(b) Maybe.
(c) Yes.
(d) The book does not specify.

9. Before leaving his homeland, what does Getheren do?
(a) He steals the Hearth's wealth, thereby plunging it into poverty.
(b) He bundles up as warmly as he can to protect himself from the cold.
(c) He lays a curse upon the Hearth that plunges it into poverty.
(d) He vows kemmering to his brother, which earns him a death sentence.

10. What is the period of time during which a Gethenian is sexually active called?
(a) Estrus.
(b) Sommer.
(c) Heat.
(d) Kemmer.

11. What is the monogamous partnership between two Gethenians called?
(a) Marriage.
(b) Somering.
(c) Partnership.
(d) Kemmering.

12. How does Genly Ai spend the summer?
(a) Genly spends the summer in Passerer, trying o avert war with Siuwensin.
(b) Genly spends the summer in Karhide, hiding from Tibe.
(c) Genly spends the summer traveling, observing, and listening.
(d) Genly spends the summer in Mishnory, working in the ice-house with Estraven.

13. What unanswerable question did the Lord of Shorth, according to Goss, force the foretellers to answer?
(a) What is the meaning of life?
(b) What happens after death?
(c) Why is the sky blue?
(d) When will I die?

14. What is the gender of the inhabitants of Gethen?
(a) Androgynous.
(b) Entirely female.
(c) Entirely male.
(d) Male and female.

15. What does Genly do during his time in Otherhord, while he is waiting to be taken to the Foretellers?
(a) Genly assists in the communal work of field labor, gardening, woodcutting, and maintenance.
(b) Genly works in the village's general store.
(c) Genly is apprenticed to the blacksmith.
(d) Genly tries to convince Otherhord to become part of the Ekumen.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the name of Karhide's king?

2. It's been pointed out many times in "The Left Hand of Darkness," thus far, that the Gethenians are androgynous. What does "androgynous" mean?

3. Two nights and one day after Estraven and Stokven become kemmers, Estraven is attacked by a party from Stok and presumed killed. Stokven tells his countrymen what to do with Estraven's body. Did they follow Stokven's orders?

4. What is Genly Ai's mission?

5. How long does a journey from Gethen to the Prime World, Hain, take?

(see the answer keys)

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