View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Lao Chen learn by age four?

2. What right does Chen earn?

3. Who is Lin Shi?

4. To what does the story flashback?

5. What does Lin Shi refuse to believe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Zhu Tong as of Hong?

2. What does Hong do while Chen is taking his exam?

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

4. What does Shen Ding advise Chen to do on the last day of the exam, what does Chen decide to do and why?

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

6. What do Hong and Chen announce to their father and what is his reaction?

7. Where and with whom do the boys live, and why is their life style less than it should be?

8. What talent does Chen have and at what age does this talent show?

9. Give a brief description of the two boys, Lao Hong and Lao Chen.

10. How is the truth of the brothers decided?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the theme of choice in "The Examination". Who makes wise choices? Who makes unwise choices?

2. Debate the following statement in an argument/persuasion essay: Making several poor choices one after the other makes it more likely one will continue to make poor choices.

3. Rewrite the ending with Chen making a different choice at some point in his journey. How did it change the book?

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 the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "The Examination", identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in "The Examination". (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

4. Many writers and critics say there are only a few plots in the world of fiction; it's what an author does with a plot that distinguishes a mediocre book from an outstanding book. Respond to this idea, using examples from "The Examination" and other books you have read.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,158 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample