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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 does Chen rank for the last exam?

2. Why is Chen torn over the last question?

3. Who gives most of the scholars of the final exam their diplomas?

4. Who is Yao?

5. Why do Hong and Chen leave in haste for Beijing?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Where does the boat stop and Chen looks for Meng Dafu? What do the brothers do after that?

3. Where do the brothers finally stop after the Yellow River plain and where do they stay there?

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

5. What is the examination in Beijing going to be?

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

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

8. 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?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bosse has tried as much as possible to use historical events and facts around which to weave his work of fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think this book qualifies as an historical fiction? Why or why not?

2. If much of the events in the book are historical, what surprises you about the way the events play out?

3. Do you think the culture of that era is more or less advanced than you imagined? Explain.

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 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?

(see the answer keys)

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