In some parts of China, married couples seeking to split up have been asked to take a quiz issued by the local authorities.

The more they knew about each other — including a spouse’s birthday or favourite food — the less likely they were to have the divorce immediately approved. The quizzes, issued in at least two provinces since last year, follow the format of a typical three-part school exam: fill-in-the-blank, short answer and an essay. Questions include the mundane — “When is your anniversary?” — and the philosophical: “Have you fulfilled your responsibility to your family?”.

The divorce rate in China is rapidly rising, driven largely by working women who feel newly empowered to seek one. But the government is trying to slow the trend, which it sees as a source of social instability.