Civil Service Exam Reading Quiz

How are women viewed in China? What is their primary role in Chinese society?

In China, women are seen as unimportant and are only needed to give birth to boys.

How did this attitude towards women affect Chinese society, families, and class distinctions?

It dehumanized women while adding important to men.

What were the economic effects of the civil service exam system?

Due to the printing of study books and the price to send kids to a fancy institution, the economy highly benefited from the civil service exam.

How did this system influence Chinese cultural values, ideas, and education?

By putting an emphasis on education and making it even more of a necessity for women to have boys.

As a pregnant woman, what things should an expectant mother do to have a positive influence on her unborn child?

While pregnant, women should always sit up straight, not sleeping with their heads on their arms, arrange their pillows in a specific way, avoid unpleasant colors and strange foods, and listen to poetry and the classics.

At what age would a boy start his studies in preparation for the exam?

At the age of 3, boys would begin learning characters. At the age of 7 or 8, boys would be enrolled in formal education.

What types of knowledge/skills were students expected to master?

Boys would be expected to know Confucian classics, essay writing & calligraphy, math, legal and government matters, poetry, and clear and coherent speaking.

In your opinion, was the civil service exam a more democratic and fair system of government than the one used in the Muslim world?

No, the civil service exam was not fair or democratic. According to the text, “It was not perfect….it excluded women. The system also put enormous pressure on young boys of ambitious families”. Allowing only boys to take the test and only needing women so they can give birth to boys is not fair. The civil service exam is also not democratic because it is not part of the will of the people; the select few who pass are chosen by government officials. However, without information on the government system used in the Muslim world, it is impossible to say which was fairer.

Did the examination system serve a useful purpose? (briefly describe the state of the Chinese government and society during its period of disunity, between the third to sixth centuries)

Yes, because it ended the power of the aristocracy and ensured all officials were chosen by merit. The third to sixth century, known as the period of disunion. was also known as the golden age of Chinese aristocracy, and prioitized birth over merit.

What two issues arose as a result of the civil service exam?

Only a very small number of people actually passed, limiting the number of government officials. Secondly, there were sometimes conflicts between officials, as the historical and economic roots were still shallow.

How did the Song Dynasty overcome these disadvantages?

The Song increased the number of men who were granted degrees, and held the exam every 3 years, so an average of 100 men a year were granted government positions, kicking out all previous officials who were only their because of their birthright. decreasing the number of conflicts.