Are you qualified to get a divorce? Take a test before you file the divorce at the court.
That's the current procedure for couples who want to divorce in Donghai county, East China's Jiangsu province. If either person scores at least 60 points out of the total 100, they may still 'possibly love each other' and are persuaded to rethink their decision.
According to reports, the exam covers basic information such as family members' birthdays, anniversary dates and food preferences.
It starts with simple questions such as 'When are the birthdays of your partner's parents?' and 'What is your partner's favorite food?'
The exam then continues on to in-depth questions, which require longer answers.
One asks: 'What responsibility did you take on in this family? What did you do that was good and what did you do that was bad?'
Another one states: 'What is marriage and family to you?'
Of the first couple that took the exam, the man got zero and the woman 100, showing he was already so determined to divorce that no persuasion or exam could stop him.
The practice aroused fierce discussions online, with some criticizing the local government for interfering in people's lives.
In response, the local authority said the exam is not mandatory and their staff members will only 'persuade' the couples with high points to reconsider their decision.
'The aim is to let both sides understand themselves and the other side, and recall little moments in their marriage,' the department said, according to a report from the Global Times.
However, it remains in doubt whether the practice can be truly effective.
As some netizens say, the exam implies the outdated value that marriage is necessarily better than divorce. Everyone has the freedom to decide whether to marry, and to divorce if the marriage breaks down, and no one should have the power to intervene. Those who choose to divorce should not be discriminated against.
More netizens believe that happy marriages need more mutual understanding, patience, and even tolerance.
Instead of being tested at the last minute of marriage, it is said that a test before getting married might be more useful.
Here is a list of 13 questions provided by The New York Times. Test yourself to see if you're ready for a sustainable marriage.
Did your family throw plates, calmly discuss issues or silently shut down when disagreements arose?
Will we have children, and if we do, will you change diapers?
Will our experiences with our exes help or hinder us?
How important is religion? How will we celebrate religious holidays, if at all?
Is my debt your debt? Would you be willing to bail me out?
What's the most you would be willing to spend on a car, a couch, shoes?
Can you deal with my doing things without you?
Do we like each other's parents?
How important is sex to you?
How far should we take flirting with other people?
Do you know all the ways I say 'I love you'?
What do you admire about me, and what are your pet peeves?
How do you see us 10 years from now?
Click here for audio and translation of the story.
Editors: Zhang Xiaomin, Jiao Jie
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