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. Who is Zhu Tong?

2. Who is Weijun?

3. What do the boys find when they arrive at Chengdu?

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

5. What does Chen worry about concerning the customs officers?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens as the brothers leave Ma's home?

2. What does Ye Pan tell Hong when Hong gives him the letter? What does he invite Hong to do?

3. How does Hong's match turn out?

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

5. Who is suspicious of the brothers, why and what does he intend to do?

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

7. How does Chen figure out that Shen Ding tried to ruin Chen's chances at passing the exam?

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

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

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

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

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think "The Examination" is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

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)

This section contains 1,204 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample