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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. Who tells Komura the package contained something that was inside him?

2. What did Shimao and Komura watch on television?

3. What is Komura's job?

4. What kind of business did Keisuke's parents own?

5. Who was Shimao hiking with in her bear story?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Junko learn about Miyake's family?

2. What does the note Komura's wife left behind say?

3. How is Miyake able to paint?

4. What did Mr. Tabata tell Yoshiya about his father?

5. Why does Sasaki want Komura to go to Hokkaido?

6. What do Miyake and Junko decide to do after the fire dies down?

7. Why does Miyake like fire?

8. Why did Miyake call Junko?

9. Describe Yoshiya's final moments with Mr. Tabata.

10. What joke does Shimao make about what's inside the package Komura delivered?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Assess the power of shared experiences in shaping diverse personal narratives. How does the Kobe earthquake unify these stories and the characters in them?

Essay Topic 2

How does Murakami use music and literature as tools for characterization and theme exploration?

Essay Topic 3

Many of the emotions in this set of short stories are understated. Choose three stories to focus on, and explain how this is true. Why do you think Murakami made these choices?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 571 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample