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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Keiko encourage Komura to do at the hotel?
(a) Call his wife.
(b) Watch the news.
(c) Take a bath.
(d) Order some food.

2. According to Yoshiya, why can he not get married?
(a) He wants to be a spiritual guide.
(b) He has to take care of his mother.
(c) He is the son of God.
(d) He does not want to have children.

3. Who "gave himself to the flow of time" (67)?
(a) Yoshiya.
(b) The obstetrician.
(c) Yoshiya's father.
(d) Mr. Tabata.

4. According to Miyake, what can reveal the inside of a person?
(a) Fire.
(b) Water.
(c) Love.
(d) Devastation.

5. Why does Shimao believe Komura is unable to engage in intercourse with her?
(a) He does not find her attractive.
(b) He is afraid of bears.
(c) He is afraid of earthquakes.
(d) He is thinking about his wife.

6. Who reassures Komura that somebody will love him?
(a) Junko.
(b) Miyake.
(c) Keiko.
(d) Shimao.

7. Who does Yoshiya live with?
(a) Junko.
(b) His friend.
(c) His mother.
(d) Mr. Tabata.

8. Where was Miyake from?
(a) Kobe.
(b) Hokkaido.
(c) Yamagata.
(d) Tokyo.

9. How does Miyake think he is going to die?
(a) He will die in an earthquake.
(b) He will be locked in a refrigerator.
(c) He will be stabbed.
(d) He will fall off a cliff.

10. What is the name of the man whose wife left him after seeing a UFO?
(a) Sasaki.
(b) Saeiki.
(c) Junko.
(d) Yamagata.

11. What is the name of Komura's colleague?
(a) Junko.
(b) Shimao.
(c) Keiko.
(d) Sasaki.

12. What did Yoshiya pray for each night before bed?
(a) To find a wife.
(b) To become a doctor.
(c) To catch fly balls in the outfield.
(d) To meet his biological mother.

13. What did Komura's wife write in her note to him?
(a) I will be back in two weeks.
(b) I am never coming back.
(c) You are the worst person I have ever met.
(d) I went to help people after the earthquake.

14. Where did the earthquake occur?
(a) Akihabara.
(b) Yamagata.
(c) Kobe.
(d) Tokyo.

15. What drew Kamura's wife to the television?
(a) A reality television show.
(b) A holiday parade.
(c) A house fire.
(d) An earthquake.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which character claims to feel "completely empty" (42)?

2. What kind of life does Keisuke want?

3. What is the perspective of this short story?

4. What had vanished when Yoshiya woke up?

5. How many children does Miyake have?

(see the answer keys)

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