Illustration: Xia Qing/GT
Red Qipao dresses,
purple underwear, gray and yellow jackets. These are all goods that especially target Chinese students who are about to take what is perhaps the most important test in their lifetime: the
gaokao, or college entrance examination. These goods, with specific colors that culturally signify good luck, have been popular among Chinese parents. Before the important big test, some parents anxiously pay an unreasonably high price to buy exercise books that claim to predict test questions of the upcoming
gaokao- facts have proven that very few of these exercise books can do it, though. Worse still, some parents buy so-called smart pills for their children. These "smart pills" are in fact stupid: They damage the central nervous system because they are artificial stimulants. These boost energy at the beginning, but bring about serious side effects such as headaches, nausea, insomnia and anxiety.
Gaokaomeans a lot to most Chinese people. But some suppliers are taking advantage of parents' anxiety and turning the exam into a loophole to make profits.
Gaokaois not only an exam for students, but also for parents. Parents should not add extra pressure to their children by being superstitious and desperately turning to any weird solution they can find.
