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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 Hong doing while Chen participates in the banquet ceremonies?

2. Who is Lin Shi?

3. What has Bao taken upon herself to do?

4. What does the magistrate not believe?

5. For what does Ye Pan praise Hong?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How is the truth of the brothers decided?

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

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

5. Why is Bao angry at Hong and to what does Hong finally agree?

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "The Examination". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters most need to grow as humans? Why? Give examples. Why characters seem to have reached close to their full emotional/mental growth? Why? Give examples What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of immaturity in "The Examination". Which characters struggle with immaturity? Why? Which characters seem really healthy emotionally/mentally? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of tradition in "The Examination". What is Chen's view of tradition? Hong's? Pan? Ma? Why is tradition important to some characters? Is anyone willing to abandon traditional viewpoints? Who? What are the positive and negative aspects to tradition?

Essay Topic 2

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Lao Chen is no exception. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Chen demonstrates his prodigious powers intellect. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Chen's character flaws offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion.

3. Discuss how you think Chen's admirable traits helped him obtain a high position in the government despite his background as a child. Have his flaws impacted his career at all? Do any of those around him seem to notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss how the setting informs the plot in "The Examination".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "The Examination". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of this novel. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

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