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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. During what festival did people decorate with irises?
(a) The Festival of the First Month.
(b) The Festival of the Fifth Month.
(c) The Festival of the Eighth Month.
(d) The Festival of the Third Month.

2. In the section called "Depressing Things," what was depressing about a letter from the provinces?
(a) When the letter was on plain paper.
(b) When the penmanship was poor.
(c) When the letter arrived without a gift.
(d) When the letter bore bad news.

3. What was Shonagon's elder brother's name?
(a) Tadanobu.
(b) Tsunefusa.
(c) Narimasa.
(d) Norimitsu

4. During what cool month of heavy showers and fierce winds did Shonagon like to nap?
(a) The Seventh Month.
(b) The Third Month.
(c) The Ninth Month.
(d) The Fifth Month.

5. Who brought a Chamberlain who belonged to the Imperial Guard a cup of wine when he brought a message to an Imperial consort?
(a) The master of the house.
(b) The princess.
(c) A kitchen maid.
(d) The mother of the Imperial consort.

6. What kind of bird was said to make its nest in the paulownia tree?
(a) Phoenix.
(b) Hawk.
(c) Egret.
(d) Eagle.

7. What insect did Shonagon say she should have included in her list of hateful things?
(a) Moth.
(b) Beetle.
(c) Mosquito.
(d) Fly.

8. Who did Shonagon say was splendid in spite of their low station?
(a) A Lieutenant of the Guard.
(b) A Governor.
(c) A Middle Counselor.
(d) A Chamberlain of the Sixth Rank.

9. In the section titled "It Was During One of Her Majesty's Periods of Residence," what did the women go outside to see in the early morning?
(a) An approaching storm.
(b) Geese passing overhead.
(c) A parade.
(d) The moon.

10. In the section called "Hateful Things," what hateful thing happened when an admirer came for a clandestine visit?
(a) The admirer got lost.
(b) A maid caught the visitor.
(c) The door was locked.
(d) A dog barked.

11. What was the driver of an ox-carriage supposed to look like according to Shonagon?
(a) Simple.
(b) Short.
(c) Thin.
(d) Big.

12. What was the weather like in the Seventh Month?
(a) Stiflingly hot.
(b) Mild and warm.
(c) Bitter cold.
(d) Cool and breezy.

13. What did Shonagon say that women at the palace did not do as other women did?
(a) Serve tea.
(b) Walk about with their hair unkempt.
(c) Bow to men.
(d) Hide their faces behind fans and screens.

14. What kind of plant did Shonagon find pretty when it floated on the water of a pond?
(a) Lotus leaves.
(b) Water oats.
(c) Hollyhock.
(d) Water-plantain.

15. What did Shonagon see someone spreading on the ground while traveling in her carriage one day?
(a) Clothing.
(b) Seeds.
(c) Straw mats.
(d) Flowers.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the name of the kotonashi shrub mean?

2. What does Shonagon say was depressing for a messenger who brought a gift to a house where a child was just born?

3. What was painted on the sliding screen in the back of the hall at Seiryo Palace?

4. What tree did people regard as the tree of the Divine Presence?

5. What tree did pilgrims returning from Mitake often bring back branches of?

(see the answer keys)

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