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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "It Is So Stiflingly Hot," who did the woman in the house with the open lattice receive a letter from?
(a) Her father.
(b) Her husband.
(c) Her original lover.
(d) The Emperor.

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

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

4. What bird did Shonagon say she liked even though it did not belong to her country?
(a) Cuckoo.
(b) Lark.
(c) Mockingbird.
(d) Parrot.

5. Who was the nurse in charge of the palace cat?
(a) Okinamaro.
(b) Lady Myobu.
(c) Shonagon.
(d) Lady Uma.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was nice to hear while snuggling under the covers with a lover in the winter?

2. What did Shonagon say an ugly preacher might be?

3. Where did the women plan to go to hear a hototogisu sing during the Abstinence of the Fifth Month?

4. What color did Shonagon say oxen's bellies should be?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did the name of the water-plantain amuse Shonagon?

2. Why didn't Shonagon like the husbands of nurse-maids?

3. The herbal balls hung on the pillars of the Empress' palace during the Festival of the Fifth Month were supposed to last until the next Chrysanthemum Festival. Why didn't they last until then?

4. Why did the women hit one another with gruel sticks?

5. In "Smaller Shirakawa," why did Shonagon and her companions leave the morning service early?

6. Why were Shonagon and the other women disgusted by the response of some of the servants who were carrying attractively wrapped bundles and bags when the women asked them who the packages belonged to?

7. What made Shonagon come into the Empress's apartments after she left because the screens with the paintings of Hell frightened her?

8. In "It Is Hateful When a Well-Bred Young Man," why did Shonagan think it was proper for a gentleman to bring along a man when he went to visit a lady-in-waiting?

9. Why did the Emperor walk toward the Empress' building while playing his flute?

10. Why was it considered such a bad thing for Masahiro to leave his shoes on the serving-board?

(see the answer keys)

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