Guzheng Quiz Questions and Answers
Q1. What is the Guzheng commonly known as in English?
A. Chinese harp
B. Chinese zither
C. Chinese lute
D. Chinese flute
Answer: B. Chinese zither
Q2. Approximately how many years of history does the Guzheng have?
A. About 500 years
B. About 1,000 years
C. Over 2,500 years
D. About 3,000 years
Answer: C. Over 2,500 years
Q3. During which ancient Chinese period did the Guzheng originate?
A. Warring States Period
B. Han Dynasty
C. Tang Dynasty
D. Ming Dynasty
Answer: A. Warring States Period
Q4. How many strings does a standard modern Guzheng typically have?
A. 13
B. 16
C. 21
D. 7
Answer: C. 21
Q5. What material is the soundboard of a traditional Guzheng usually made from?
A. Bamboo
B. Paulownia wood
C. Rosewood
D. Ebony
Answer: B. Paulownia wood
Q6. What are the movable supports under each string called?
A. Frets
B. Nuts
C. Pegs
D. Bridges
Answer: D. Bridges
Q7. In standard tuning, the Guzheng is primarily tuned to which scale?
A. Major diatonic
B. Minor pentatonic
C. Major pentatonic
D. Chromatic
Answer: C. Major pentatonic
Q8. Which hand traditionally plucks the strings to produce the main melody in classical playing?
A. Left hand
B. Right hand
C. Both hands equally
D. Either hand
Answer: B. Right hand
Q9. What do modern Guzheng players typically wear on their fingers to pluck the strings?
A. Plectra
B. Metal thimbles
C. Gloves
D. Bare fingers only
Answer: A. Plectra
Q10. Which Asian instrument is considered a direct descendant of the ancient Chinese Guzheng?
A. Shamisen
B. Japanese koto
C. Indian sitar
D. Persian santur
Answer: B. Japanese koto
Q11. Which instrument is often confused with the Guzheng but has 7 strings and no movable bridges?
A. Pipa
B. Erhu
C. Guqin
D. Dizi
Answer: C. Guqin
Q12. What material were Guzheng strings traditionally made from before modern changes?
A. Silk
B. Nylon
C. Steel
D. Gut
Answer: A. Silk
Q13. In what year was the common 21-string Guzheng standardized?
A. 1950
B. 1961
C. 1975
D. 1980
Answer: B. 1961
Q14. Which famous piece is often associated with the Shandong school and depicts natural scenery?
A. Yu Zhou Chang Wan
B. Battling the Typhoon
C. High Mountains and Flowing Water
D. Jackdaw Plays with Water
Answer: C. High Mountains and Flowing Water
Q15. Which regional style is known for highly embellished melodies and irregular beats?
A. Henan
B. Chaozhou
C. Shandong
D. Zhejiang
Answer: B. Chaozhou
Q16. The Hakka style of Guzheng is closely related to which other southern style?
A. Shandong
B. Henan
C. Chaozhou
D. Zhejiang
Answer: C. Chaozhou
Q17. Which technique involves pressing strings to the left of the bridges to create vibrato or pitch bends?
A. Left-hand ornamentation
B. Tremolo
C. Harmonics
D. Right-hand rolling
Answer: A. Left-hand ornamentation
Q18. A famous modern composition known for rapid techniques and depicting a storm is:
A. High Mountains and Flowing Water
B. Battling the Typhoon
C. Autumn Moon over the Han Palace
D. Fishing Boat Singing in the Evening
Answer: B. Battling the Typhoon
Q19. Which instrument inspired variants like the Korean gayageum and Vietnamese dan tranh?
A. Guqin
B. Pipa
C. Yangqin
D. Guzheng
Answer: D. Guzheng
Q20. What innovation in the 1960s improved bass response and is now standard on Guzhengs?
A. Electric amplification
B. S-shaped string rest
C. Diatonic frets
D. 26 strings
Answer: B. S-shaped string rest
Q21. Which school is characterized by bold, dramatic melodies influenced by local opera?
A. Chaozhou
B. Hakka
C. Henan
D. Zhejiang
Answer: C. Henan
Q22. A well-known piece from the Chaozhou repertoire is:
A. High Mountains and Flowing Water
B. Jackdaw Plays with Water (Han Ya Xi Shui)
C. Lotus Emerging from Water
D. Battling the Typhoon
Answer: B. Jackdaw Plays with Water (Han Ya Xi Shui)
Q23. Which 20th-century master popularized the Zhejiang (Wulin) school?
A. Wang Xunzhi
B. Cao Zheng
C. Zhao Yuzhai
D. Lou Shuhua
Answer: A. Wang Xunzhi
Q24. Modern Guzheng strings are most commonly:
A. Pure silk
B. Pure metal wire
C. Bamboo fibers
D. Steel wrapped with nylon
Answer: D. Steel wrapped with nylon
Q25. Which variant of Guzheng, invented in the late 20th century, allows greater chromatic range?
A. 16-string traditional
B. Butterfly Guzheng
C. Electric Guzheng
D. Mini Guzheng
Answer: B. Butterfly Guzheng