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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many blocks does Ichiro's mother walk to get bread?

2. Why does Ichiro start to drink faster than Kenji while they are at the gambling parlor?

3. How long was Ito in the U.S. Army?

4. How many inches of Kenji's injured leg remains?

5. What does Ichiro have to show for going to prison?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who sends the letter to Ichiro's mother and what does it say?

2. Why is Ichiro's brother, Taro, so anxious about enlisting in the U.S. military?

3. Why does Ichiro argue with his mother again in Chapter 5?

4. Why does Ichiro get so upset with his mother in Chapter 1?

5. What was the American attitude toward Japanese after the bombing of Pearl Harbor?

6. What makes Kenji and Ichiro such close friends?

7. What did Ichiro's parents want to do before moving back to Japan?

8. Describe Ichiro's family and their attitude toward each other.

9. Why does Ichiro say his life has been ruined?

10. Why does Ichiro refuse to fight in the war?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Do you think Ichiro will be a happy man someday? Answer these questions in your response:

1) What will it take for him to be happy?

2) What will it take for him to get over his past?

3) Who is responsible for his happiness?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Ichiro's family with Kenji's family. What are the major similarities and differences? How does Ichiro's decision not to go to war and Kenji's decision go to war play into the differences in the families? Explain the influence each family was to Ichiro and Kenji.

Essay Topic 3

Is Ichiro the protagonist or antagonist in the novel? Could he be considered a hero or a villian? Explain your answers by citing examples and reasons why he is one or the other.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 572 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample