Quiz Time

Cha tossed his messenger bag on the desk before quickly hopping up on top to join it. He sat cross-legged, gazing out and up at the sea of young faces, and smiled. “Get out a pen and a piece of paper. Quiz time.” The students dutifully did as told, though a few in the front gave him a strange look when he didn’t go about withdrawing a stack of exam sheets from his bag. He waited until the rustling subsided to continue.

“Number one. What…is your name?” He kept his poker-face in position while some of the students giggled and went about writing their names down.

One cheeky guy in the seventh row raised his hand and asked, “First name, family name…?”

“Your whole name.” He waited until he could see their eyes again. “Alright, number two. Now, I know this one is tricky, so take your time. What…is your favorite color?” More giggles this time and Cha set his jaw to keep face. “You done? Alright, last question. What…are the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism? Please list them and give a brief – and I’m talking twenty words or less – description of each one.”

There was a moment as pens scratched and the students wracked their brains before there came a groaned, “Oh God” from somewhere in the back of the lecture hall.

“Hey, you shouldn’t be enjoying it that much,” Cha retorted, sending the rest of the students into a third fit of giggles and he let his smile shine through. After about another five minutes, he clapped his hands together and said, “Alright, pens down. Now, those of you in even numbered seats, hand your paper to the person to your…left and those of you in odd numbered seats, hand your paper to the person to your right.” He paused. “It’s not that difficult,” he added, noticing the students’ hesitation. After some switching back and forth – and the obvious comparing of answers – Cha told them, “Now, read their number one, their name. And say, ‘Please to meet you,’” he instructed them, bowing as if in greeting. There was a muted roar in lecture hall as the students did as told. After they quieted, he asked, “How many of you knew the person you just exchanged names with? Hands up, be proud.” He counted quickly. “Wow…so you mean to tell me, that out of a class of…what was it? 183, that only forty-seven of you already knew each other? Tsk, tsk, tsk…well, now you have a friend.” The students laughed softly and Cha chuckled. Hopping off of the desk, he crossed to the expansive blackboard. “Pass your papers to the end of the aisle and I’ll collect them after class.”