The examination..

Three scholars were on their way to the civil service examination. They stopped to buy refreshments from a woman who sold pastries by the wayside.  One of the three was calm and quiet, while the other two had been arguing over a topic on literature. 

The woman asked where they were going. The latter two told her they were going to take the civil service examination. 

She said, "You two will  not  pass the exam; that other man will." 

The two men got angry, swore at her and left.

When the results of the examination turned out as the woman had predicted, they were surprised...

The  two who had failed went back to find out how she had known they would not pass, while the third man would.

She said, "It is plain and simple.. All I know is that when a pastry is thoroughly cooked, it sits there quietly, but before it's finished it keeps on making noise."

..........................................................................................................author unknown.. collected from the net