Civil Services Mains exam syllabus: Chinese

Paper I

This paper requires a good knowledge of standard Chinese language and its characteristics. The questions are designed to test candidate’s organisational capabilities. All the questions except the question on translation from Chinese to English must be answered in Chinese.

Section A

Essay writing in about 500 Chinese characters on a topical subject.

Translation:

Chinese-English

English-Chinese

Syntactic and grammatical usage.

Section B

Explanation of idioms and phrases in Chinese.

Development of Chinese language.

Comprehension Precis writing.

Paper II

This paper requires a good grasp of Chinese studies and will be designed to test the candidate’s critical ability. All the questions must be answered in Chinese.

Section A

Short notes on topics related to major events in modern Chinese history (from 1919 till date).

Critical evaluation of major literary works in pre-liberation period (1919-1949):

Lao She: Four Generations, Rickshaw-puller.

Ba Jin: Family.

Lu Xum: Medicine, Madman’s Diary. The True Story of Ah Q.

Mao Dun: Midnight

Ai Quing: Coal’s Reply (Mei de Duihua), Begger (Qigai), I Love This Land (Wo Ai Zhe Tudi), Old Man (Laoren)

Guo Moruo: The Goddesses.

Role of Philosophy and Religion in the Development of Chinese Society.

Section B

Socio-Economic/Political/Educational/Sports/Science and Technological Development since 1979.

Critical appreciation of major literary works in post-liberation period (1949 till date):

Gu Hua: The Town Called Hibiscus (Furongzhen)

Chen Rong: Till the Middle Age (Ren dao Zhongnian)

Liu Xinwu: The Class-in-Charge (Ban Zhuren)

Lu Yao: The Human Existence (Rensheng)

Ai Qing: Fish Fossil, The Mirror, The Gardener’s Dream, The Hunter Who Drew Birds

Shu Ting: Motherland, My Beloved Motherland.