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

2. Who is the story in Chapter 9 about?
(a) Stokven, Therem of Stok.
(b) Estraven, the former prime minster of Karhide who has been granted asylum in Mishnory.
(c) Estraven, an ancestor of the Estraven who was once Prime Minister of Karhide.
(d) King Argaven's ancestors.

3. What is the proclamation made just before Genly is taken in to see the king?
(a) Estraven is to be stripped of his titles and exiled for committing treason.
(b) A bounty has been set on Genly's head.
(c) The king is terminally ill.
(d) Estraven is to be made second-in-command.

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

5. What is the result of Genly's meeting with the king?
(a) The meeting is not successful; the king is not interested in Karhide becoming part of the Ekumen.
(b) It is a good "get to know you" meeting; the king is interested in learning more about the Ekumen and schedules a second discussion with Genly.
(c) The king is so offended by Genly's pictures that he has Genly imprisoned.
(d) The meeting is successful; Karhide becomes part of the Ekumen.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Estraven do once he learns of his exile?

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

3. What is the Gethenians' mating cycle known as?

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

5. What name does Estraven give to the doctor while he is in the hospital?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Getheren 'took back his name and shadow,' what effect did it have on Shath and why?

2. In Chapter 19, how is betrayal portrayed?

3. Investigator Oppong makes a comment about First Mobiles, specifically that they must be self-assured because their pride will suffer. How does this comment relate to Genly?

4. What does Sorve, Estraven's son, ask Genly to tell him about?

5. Why does Herbor, Lord Berosty's kemmering, offer his life for a Foretelling by the Weaver Odren after Berosty locked himself away?

6. What does Commissioner Shusgis do that is so surprising to Genly? Why does it surprise him?

7. What is the only question that Faxe tells Genly can really be answered?

8. Why, in Chapter 15, are Genly and Estraven still calling each other by their last names (respectively, Ai and Therem)?

9. What does the answer given to Genly by the Foretellers foreshadow?

10. What does Genly do during the time it takes him to journey to the border between Karhide and Orgoreyn? How is he treated during his travels?

(see the answer keys)

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