1.  In what ways does Wu Ching-tzu's The Scholars poke fun at the scholar-official?  

  2.  Why was it that very few peasant boys from poor families passed the examination and became
       scholar-officials?

  3.  What knowledge was the candidate supposed to have in order to pass the examination for
       scholar-official?

  4.  Describe the early education of Su Tung-po.  In his examination at the capital, what did he do that
       was unusual?  What did Su Tung-po do after he passed the district examination?

  5.  What innovations in Chinese society did Wang An-shih propose?  Who supported Wang An-shih and
       who opposed him?

  6.  What political position did Su Tung-po take in the Wang An-shih controversy?  Why was Su Tung-po
       referred to as "Master"? 

  7.  How did Su Tung-po's poetry get him into trouble?

  8.  What did the author mean when he said about Su Tung-po that He found it impossible to work
       entirely within the system?  Explain.

  9.  List some of the important contributions that Su Tung-po made in his role as scholar-official.

10.  Was China an open society at the time of the scholar-officials?  Explain.

11.  Defend or attack the following statement:  The behavior of government officials in traditional China has
      some striking resemblance to behavior of bureaucrats everywhere today.