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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Shonagon say gentlemen should always have lest she find them boring?
(a) Quick tongues.
(b) Money.
(c) Nice clothes.
(d) Escorts.

2. What color did Shonagon say oxen's bellies should be?
(a) White.
(b) Black.
(c) Grey.
(d) Brown.

3. What title was Norimitsu awarded after his falling out with Shonagon?
(a) Lieutenant of the Guards.
(b) Assistant Governor of Totomi.
(c) Governor of Suruga.
(d) Middle Counsellor.

4. What was nice to hear while snuggling under the covers with a lover in the winter?
(a) A flute.
(b) Bellowing cows.
(c) A temple gong.
(d) A purring cat.

5. What did Yukinari say he could not stand in a woman?
(a) Unkempt hair.
(b) Large feet.
(c) An unattractive voice.
(d) Stupidity.

6. What was Yukinari's title?
(a) Middle Counsellor.
(b) Emperor.
(c) Controller First Secretary.
(d) Chamberlain.

7. In the section titled "I Was Standing in a Corridor," what were the servants carrying?
(a) Blankets.
(b) Attractively wrapped bundles and bags.
(c) Shoes.
(d) Baskets of fruit.

8. What tree did people regard as the tree of the Divine Presence?
(a) Sakaki.
(b) Cherry.
(c) Oak.
(d) Cypress.

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

10. What does Shonagon say was depressing for a messenger who brought a gift to a house where a child was just born?
(a) The gift was returned unopened.
(b) No reward was given.
(c) The messenger was ignored.
(d) The child had died.

11. What did Shonagon say a well-bred young man should never do when visiting a woman of lower rank?
(a) Call out her name.
(b) Kiss her.
(c) Let anyone see him.
(d) Give her gifts.

12. While the Empress was staying in the building of the Empress's Office, what was reported to be in the main room?
(a) A rat.
(b) A ghost.
(c) A burglar.
(d) A demon.

13. What was the five-year-old boy that Shonagon saw while traveling her carriage one day holding?
(a) A bow and stick.
(b) A puppy.
(c) A bucket.
(d) Flowers.

14. How did Shonagon say the sky should appear on the fifth day of the Fifth Month?
(a) Brilliantly blue.
(b) Cloudy.
(c) Sunny.
(d) Foggy.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What time of the day did Shonagan say was the most beautiful in the spring?

2. What was rare in a servant according to the section titled "Rare Things?"

3. During what cool month of heavy showers and fierce winds did Shonagon like to nap?

4. What was the old nun who came on the second day of the Perpetual Readings asking for?

5. What tree did Shonagon say had a vulgar name?

(see the answer keys)

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