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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What ruined the cherry blossoms used to decorate for the Dedication of the Full Canon?
(a) Insects.
(b) Rain.
(c) Common people.
(d) Birds.

2. What was the poem Captain Tadanobu was going to recite in "One Day Captain Tadanobu, the Imperial Adviser, Came to Call?"
(a) A beautiful woman looking at the moon.
(b) The Fourth Month in this world of men.
(c) Cherry blossoms in the spring.
(d) The Chancellor's death.

3. What was the spirit of the Captain from the Inner Palace Guards said to be haunting?
(a) A bridge.
(b) A path leading to the garden.
(c) A temple.
(d) The Palace.

4. Which of these did Shonagon say was distant but near?
(a) Relations between a man and a woman.
(b) The course of a boat.
(c) Festivals celebrated near the palace.
(d) Paradise.

5. In "One Evening during the Reign of Emperor Murakami" what was causing smoke to come from the brazier?
(a) A burning notebook.
(b) A rat.
(c) A frog.
(d) A cedar branch.

6. Which of the following did Shonagon include on her list of presumptuous things?
(a) Burping.
(b) Coughing.
(c) Foot shuffling.
(d) Sneezing.

7. What did Masahiro hide behind a screen to eat?
(a) Fish.
(b) Rice.
(c) Seaweed.
(d) Beans.

8. What was pleasing about finding a torn up letter?
(a) When one could piece it back together.
(b) Burning the paper.
(c) The pattern it made on the ground.
(d) When one discovered it wasn't from oneself.

9. Which of these did Shonagon say loses by being painted?
(a) Mountain villages.
(b) Cranes.
(c) Pines.
(d) Cherry blossoms.

10. What sounded different in the Time Office in "While We Were in Mourning for the Chancellor?"
(a) Singing.
(b) Men's voices.
(c) Laughter.
(d) The gong.

11. In the section titled "In the Fifth Month" what kind of branch gave a fragrant scent when stuck in the carriage wheel?
(a) Plum blossom.
(b) Cherry blossom.
(c) Sagebrush.
(d) Cedar.

12. Which of these was included in the list of things that had lost their power?
(a) An ancient Emperor.
(b) A large tree that was blown down.
(c) A retreating storm.
(d) A dead fish washed up on a beach.

13. Who said he/she would order the dancers to perform for the ladies-in-waiting after the Special Festival at Iwashimizu?
(a) The Chancellor.
(b) The Empress.
(c) Yukinari.
(d) The Emperor.

14. Which of these was not on Shonagon's list of things that should be large.
(a) Old cats.
(b) Yellow rose petals.
(c) Priests.
(d) Men's eyes.

15. Who recited the perfect lines at the gathering following the service dedicated to the late Chancellor?
(a) Shonagon.
(b) Yukinari.
(c) Tadanobu.
(d) The Emperor.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Things Without Merit" what item did Shonagon say was so vulgar that people wouldn't want her to mention it?

2. What would make a player in a game of hidden rhymes look pleased with himself?

3. When did Shonagon say people walking about laughing loudly are enviable?

4. When Shonagon first went into waiting, what was the only time of day she wanted to go before the Empress?

5. What caused the lamp to tip when Masahiro was responsible for filling the lamps with oil?

(see the answer keys)

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