Prelim Examination

Survey of Afro-Asian Literature

I. Enumerate.

1-4. The characters from the story “The Spider’s Thread”.

5-13. The characters from the story “The Vanity of the Rat”.
14-15. The major characters in the story “Karma”.

II. Identify who/what is being described in each item.

16. A brief statement about a universal truth, of an unknown author.

17. He excels in the art of using modern psychological insights in the retelling of ancient Japanese tales.
18. An author who was born and bred in Northwest India and became editor of the Hindi-and-English
government newspaper Yojana in Delhi.
19. Japanese term of “The Spider’s Thread”.
20. A great robber who has done many evil things murdering and setting fire to houses.
21. The means that Buddha used to try to take Kandata out of hell.
22. A middle-aged Indian man, educated in England, who work as a lawyer and a vizier.
23. A character described as obese, old and smells like sweat and raw onions.
24-25. The two soldiers who occupied the compartment of Sir Mohan Lal and kicked him out of the train.

III. Read and analyze the given statements in each item. Choose the best answer from the given
options.

26. “Let another praise you, not yourself; a stranger, not your own lips. Pride comes before destruction” is a
proverb under the category _________.
a. Prudence c. Friendship
b. Humility d. Charity

27. “It is better to be invited to herbs with love; than to fatted calf with hatred”, is under the category
__________.
a. Poverty c. Hospitality
b. Charity d. Truthfulness

28. I have often imagined the ineffable sweetness of flowers like the camia and the jasmine.
a. jubilant c. definable
b. lovely d. inexpressible

29. One cannot help but wonder at the myriads of stars in the heaven.
a. many c. pinch
b. bit d. countless

30. squirming:wriggle – exulted: __________

a. jubilant c. gloomy
b. sadness d. dying

31. What incident caused Kandata to lose his chance of going up to paradise?
a. He spared the spider’s life.
b. He cut the spider’s thread so others cannot climb up.
c. He told the sinners climbing behind him to not climb because the thread is only for himself.
d. He got tired and the thread suddenly broke with a snap at the point where he was hanging.
32. The ambitious Mr. and Mrs. Rat wanted their daughter to marry someone who is high-stationed.
a. comes from heaven c. occupies an important position
b. is tall and handsome d. has inherited great wealth

33. From the story “The Vanity of the Rat” who uttered the line “I am indeed powerful enough, for forests
tremble and ships toss in fear of me”.
a. Mr. Wall c. Mr. Cloud
b. Mr. Sun d. Mr. Wind

34. Sir Mohan Lal had a reservation on a first class train compartment while his wife was in an interclass
zenana compartment. What is Sir Mohan Lal’s reasoning for this?
a. He was hoping to have English companions in his compartment so that he could impress them with his
Oxford manners and mastery of the English Language.
b. He should be there because he is a vizier.
c. He is ashamed to be with his obese wife in the zenana compartment.
d. He wanted to be with the English soldiers.

35. Who served as Sir Mohan Lal’s karma?

a. Bill and Jim c. Lady Lal
b. The two soldiers d. Both A and B

IV. Express your idea about the passage below in 50 words.

Description of a Wise Man

From Tao Te Ching
By Lao Tzu

Cautious, like one crossing a wintry stream,

Irresolute, like one fearing danger all around,
Grave, like one acting as guests,
Self-effacing, like ice beginning to melt,
Genuine, like a piece of undressed wood,
Open-minded, like a valley,
And mixing freely, like murky water.