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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 does Chen think has helped to prepare him for the exam?

2. Who is Yuying?

3. Why does Hong decide he can now leave his brother?

4. What does General Ma want Hong to do?

5. Why does Hong say he cannot see Chen as a magistrate?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Hong visits a fortune teller?

2. Why do the brothers stop in Qufu and who do they meet there? What does he ask them to do?

3. Why is General Ma disappointed about Hong and what does he invite Hong to do?

4. How is Chen feeling when he starts his examination in Beijing and how does he feel at the end of it?

5. How does Chen finally decide upon a position?

6. How did Chen do on the examination, what is he called and who gives him his diploma?

7. How far do the brothers take the Grand Canal, and what are they told at the end of it? What do they decide to do about the information?

8. How does Chen answer the final question on the examination, and why is troubled by it?

9. What does Hong decide to do after Chen takes a position and what does Sun Qi give Hong?

10. What happens with Hong after he receives the message from Tang?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many events that happen in "The Examination" are foreshadowed by previous events and/or signs. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "foreshadow."

2. Why would an author use foreshadowing? Do you think it adds or detracts from your experience as a reader? Explain.

3. Trace and analyze five instances of foreshadowing in "The Examination". Match up what is mentioned earlier and what it foreshadows. Did you guess that each instance of foreshadowing was a "heads up" of something to come? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Women are not equals with men in China in the 12th century. Discuss the following:

1. Define the term "gender."

2. Discuss the Chinese cultural definitions of gender gender during the era of "The Examination" and the expectations for each gender. Do any of those expectations exist today?

3. Would you like to live in a culture that has those expectations for men and women that are revealed in "The Examination"? Discuss fully with examples from the text.

4. Are women the only ones harmed by gender-based expectations? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of "The Examination". Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of this novel. What are those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in "The Examination"? Which theme in the book speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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