in the Chinese civil service examination system a. the system entirely eliminated aristocratic influence in the government bureaucracy. b. many candidates who passed the first examination did not go on to a higher level. c. very few of the successful candidates came from the landed gentry. d. candidates from southern China always received the highest positions. e. the Song severely restricted the eligibility for taking the exams.

The correct answer is B Many candidates who passed the first examination did not go on to a higher level.

Explanation

The Chinese imperial examination system was a meritocratic system established during the Sui dynasty around the year 606. It was a method of evaluation by which Chinese citizens could aspire to be imperial officials. The evaluation system was designed at different levels; the lowest of the levels were examinations to obtain a bachelor's degree, which were taken locally to obtain a graduate status. Likewise, at the local level were the District, Prefecture and Aptitude exams, which in the same way were known only to obey the status of graduates. Being a graduate at that time was a prerequisite to enter high school and from there to be able to apply for public administration positions. The highest level exams were those of the Province, Capital, and Palace, which granted the individual the title of teacher and doctor. Therefore, it is possible to affirm that many candidates who passed the first exam did not pass to a higher level, because it was a series of exams that raised their level of difficulty and rigor, being a filter so that only the best ones could occupy public administration positions, so passing the first exam was not a security of accessing the upper level for the applicant. So, the correct answer is b. many candidates who passed the first examination did not go on to a higher level.