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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. To what position is Wei Xi being promoted?

2. What is Chen offered after his examinations?

3. How many parts does the exam in Beijing have?

4. What does the municipal examination do?

5. How is Hong tortured?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Hong goes to deliver his letter from Ye Pan?

2. How does Hong find information about the locusts and his village?

3. Where is Hong taken by the pirates, who does he meet and what does that person tell him?

4. What do the brothers decide to do when they leave the army, who do they meet and how does Chen feel about him?

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

6. What do the river pirates do when they board the boat?

7. How does Chen finally decide upon a position?

8. What does Hong tell the pirates about the letters he carries?

9. What is available to Chen for a position, what is he considering and how does Hong feel about Chen making up his mind?

10. What happens as Hong is with the army about Wang Chih and the outpost where he was held?

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

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "The Examination" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "The Examination" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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