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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Book One: Chapter 3, "Whose Boobs Are They?", what do the homunculi represent in Natsu's dream-like sequence?
(a) Society's judgment on appearances.
(b) The pursuit of physical beauty.
(c) The desire for acceptance and identity.
(d) Natsu's inner demons.

2. In Book One: Chapter 6, "The Safest Place in the World," what do the lights in the distance remind Natsu of?
(a) The port town they used to live in.
(b) The grape-picking trip they missed as a child.
(c) Fireworks.
(d) The city lights at night.

3. In Book One: Chapter 1, "Are You Poor?," what is the girl's age on the train that gets Natsu thinking about poverty?
(a) 15.
(b) 10.
(c) 12.
(d) 8.

4. In Book One: Chapter 3, "Whose Boobs Are They?", what is the overall theme or message conveyed in this excerpt?
(a) The complexities of gender identity and societal norms.
(b) The importance of maintaining friendships from childhood.
(c) The pursuit of physical beauty and its impact on self-worth.
(d) The discomfort of being naked in a public bathhouse.

5. In Book One: Chapter 2, "To Be More Beautiful," why does Makiko refuse Natsu's suggestion of applying for welfare assistance?
(a) She believes she can find a better job on her own.
(b) She believes it will be a burden on society.
(c) She thinks it will be a sign of failure and shame.
(d) She does not want to accept help from the government.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Book One: Chapter 4, "Out For Chinese," how does Midoriko react when Makiko talks about kissing her while she sleeps?

2. In Book One: Chapter 2, "To Be More Beautiful," what are the two main refrains in Makiko's speeches about breast augmentation?

3. In Book One: Chapter 5, "Up All Night Talking," why does Natsu think the landlord's representative is shaking them down?

4. In Book One: Chapter 1, "Are You Poor?," how old is Makiko at the time of the story?

5. In Book One: Chapter 1, "Are You Poor?," what communication method does Midoriko use to talk to her mother after they stop speaking?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Book One: Chapter 5, "Up All Night Talking," how does Natsu's encounter with Yamagu, now known as Chika Yamaguchi, at the Chinese restaurant evoke memories from her past? How does this encounter reflect the theme of unexpected reunions in the story?

2. In Book One: Chapter 6, "The Safest Place In The World," in Midoriko's journal entry, she contemplates the process of fertilization and the development of eggs. How does this reflection reveal her anxieties and concerns about womanhood, and what does it imply about societal expectations?

3. In Book One: Chapter 2, "To Be More Beautiful," how does Natsu feel about Makiko's decision to consider welfare as a potential financial support option, and why does Makiko hesitate to consider it?

4. In Book One: Chapter 1, "Are You Poor?," what unusual communication method has emerged between Makiko and her daughter, Midoriko? How long has this been going on, and what are Makiko's thoughts and feelings about it?

5. In Book One: Chapter 6, "The Safest Place In The World," how does the act of cleaning the blood-stained sheets and the exchange with Midoriko in the bathroom underscore the mother-daughter dynamic in the story?

6. In Book One: Chapter 3, "Whose Boobs Are They?" how do Natsu's past memories with Makiko and her dreams of becoming a writer intersect with her responsibilities towards her niece?

7. In Book One: Chapter 5, "Up All Night Talking," how does the conversation between Makiko and Natsu about the man whose ex-wife returns after 20 years reflect the theme of societal expectations?

8. In Book One: Chapter 1, "Are You Poor?," how does Natsu gauge someone's past poverty based on the number of windows they had in their childhood home? What is the significance of this observation?

9. In Book One: Chapter 4, "Out For Chinese," who is Kewpie, and what role does he play in the community of Shobashi? Describe his appearance, personality, and the unusual way he makes a living.

10. In Book One: Chapter 1, "Are You Poor?," how does Natsu and her sister manage to survive after their mother's death, and what do they do to support themselves financially during their teenage years?

(see the answer keys)

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