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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. Where are Chen and Ding's names on the list that is first posted?

2. What does Lin Shi decide Hong and Chen are doing?

3. Who is Zhu Tong?

4. What does Shen Ding's note to Chen say?

5. What does Chen need that was difficult to get?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who has tutored Chen and what type of examinations has he passed at the beginning of the book? What is he now called in China?

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

3. Who does Hong get to know on the river?

4. From where is Chen returning on a cart and on what is he thinking?

5. How is the truth of the brothers decided?

6. What does Zhu Tong as of Hong?

7. What is waiting for Chen when he arrives home and who has done it for him?

8. What has Hong heard about locust, what is his concern and how does Chen respond to that concern?

9. What surprises Hong when the boys leave on their journey and how does Chen feel about it?

10. How does Hong eventually feel about Lin Shi and what happens to Lin Shi?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

This novel is more character driven rather than action driven, and obviously there are several characters who make the novel what it is. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Hong and Chen. Include their goals, sense of honor, abilities and social skills.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Chen and Shen Ding.

3. Thoroughly analyze the character of Lao Chen discussing both his strong and weak points and how both affect the outcome of the plot.

(see the answer keys)

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