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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 told by the spirity of his mother?

2. Who is Yao?

3. Who is Ni Fenglin?

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

5. What do three scholars want to do with Chen?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Wang Chih get away from the army?

2. What does Hong do while Chen is studying?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "The Examination". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Bosse chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Bosse chooses the metaphors he does?

3. Discuss Bosse's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Bosse use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

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

The scholars are asked to write on a single question, supposedly composed by the emperor himself. The question is "What does 'good' mean in the social order?" Chen is torn, because his own personal experiences seem to conflict with what he has learned through scholarship. He begins to write about his own experiences from his journey, but changes his mind and composes an essay on what makes a good leader.

1. Why do you think Chen's experience on his journey might conflict with his academic knowledge? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Why do you think Chen's experiences might be a good answer to the question about good? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. What influence do you think a good leader has on social order? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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