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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 is the relation between Lao Hong and Lao Chen?

2. What does the Magistrate decide to do to find out if the boys are who they say?

3. Why is Bao angry with Hong?

4. To what does the story flashback?

5. Where is the person to get the letter living?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the truth of the brothers decided?

2. Where does Hong find Ye Pan and what does he do before delivering the letter? What does Ye Pan do when he sees Hong?

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

4. What test taker treats the brothers to tea and what does he tell Chen about the examination?

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

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

7. What does Shen Ding explain to Chen about the grading of the exams?

8. What does Zhu Tong as of Hong?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "The Examination". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Bosse chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Bosse chooses the metaphors he does?

3. Discuss Bosse's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Bosse use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 2

The brothers face a moral dilemma when they meet some starving villagers on their way to Beijing. By giving the women some food, they make them a target of the two starving men who may kill the women to get it. They give some food to the men as well, but then leave without seeing what happens. Later in the book, the brothers each admit to thinking the right thing to do would have been to kill the two men so the women might live. The dilemma has no clear solution, and serves as an example of the difficulty in determining and enforcing social justice. Within the narrative, the episode is transformational to the brothers, who are rapidly forming their own ideas about right and wrong in the social order.

1. Do you think the brothers solved the problem with the men and the women and food well? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Why do you think this event might have caused the brothers to think about social justice and order? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. How does this event tie in with Hong joining the White Lotus Society? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

In the world of academia, historical fiction is often considered an inferior form of the novel compared to "classic" literature. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think historical fiction might be considered second-rate compared to the classics?

2. Do you think historical fiction has the same elements as the classics? Why or why not?

3. What are the purposes do you think for people reading "the classics"? What are the purposes for people reading historical fiction? Is one purpose better than another? Explain your response.

4. Would you read historical fiction even outside an educational setting? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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