Gaokao Exam Classical Chinese Reading Comprehension 1

Question 1

In classical Chinese, the particle '乎' (hū) at the end of a sentence most commonly indicates:

Accepted Answer

A rhetorical or interrogative tone

Answer

'乎' placed at the end of a sentence functions as a question or rhetorical particle, similar to 'ma' in modern Chinese or a question mark in English. In '不亦乐乎', it creates a rhetorical question. It can also express doubt, wonder, or mild exclamation.

Question 2

The classical Chinese phrase '温故而知新' (wēn gù ér zhī xīn) from the Analects best translates as:

Accepted Answer

Review what you have learned and you may discover something new

Answer

'温' means to review or warm up, '故' means the old or what was learned before, '而' is a connective, '知' means to know or discover, and '新' means new. Confucius used this to describe the quality of a true teacher who can find fresh insights by revisiting old knowledge.

Question 3

In classical Chinese texts, the pronoun '吾' (wú) differs from '我' (wǒ) primarily in that:

Accepted Answer

'吾' typically appears as a subject or possessive while '我' can also serve as an object

Answer

In classical Chinese grammar, '吾' predominantly functions as a subject pronoun or in the possessive position, while '我' is more versatile and can appear as the object of a verb. This distinction is a common grammatical point tested on the Gaokao.

Question 4

The literary device '互文' (hùwén), frequently found in classical Chinese poetry, refers to:

Accepted Answer

Two parallel phrases whose meanings must be read together and merged for full understanding

Answer

'互文' is a classical rhetorical device where two parallel phrases are semantically intertwined, meaning each phrase implicitly contains the meaning of the other. For example, in '秦时明月汉时关', 'Qin-time bright moon and Han-time pass' actually means 'the bright moon and the pass of both the Qin and Han times.'

Question 5

In classical Chinese, the word '走' (zǒu) in pre-Tang dynasty texts most commonly meant:

Accepted Answer

To run or move quickly

Answer

This is a classic example of a '古今异义' (word whose meaning has shifted over time). In ancient Chinese, '走' meant 'to run,' whereas in modern Chinese it means 'to walk.' Recognizing such semantic shifts is a key skill tested in Gaokao classical reading comprehension.

Gaokao Exam Practice Test

Gaokao Exam Practice Test

Gaokao Exam Classical Chinese Reading Comprehension 1