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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 4, "Out For Chinese," what does Natsu ask Midoriko after the awkward silence?
(a) If she wants to leave the restaurant.
(b) If she likes Chinese food.
(c) If she wants to order more food.
(d) If the soy sauce is too much for her.

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

3. In Book One: Chapter 4, "Out For Chinese," what is Midoriko's reason for not going to the baths with her mom?
(a) She feels embarrassed about her mom's dress.
(b) She does not like going to public baths.
(c) She is upset about their recent fight.
(d) She has a conflict with her mom.

4. In Book One: Chapter 2, "To Be More Beautiful," what is the cost of the silicone breast augmentation Makiko plans to get?
(a) 2,000,000 yen.
(b) 1,500,000 yen.
(c) 1,000,000 yen.
(d) 800,000 yen.

5. In Book One: Chapter 6, "The Safest Place in the World," what do Natsu and Midoriko order for lunch at the amusement park?
(a) Veggie tempura bowl and curry rice.
(b) Hot dogs and french fries.
(c) Pizza and ice cream.
(d) Hamburgers and soda.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Book One: Chapter 3, "Whose Boobs Are They?", what did Natsu plan to do with Midoriko before dinner?

2. In Book One: Chapter 4, "Out For Chinese," what does Midoriko decide about having children in the future?

3. In Book One: Chapter 6, "The Safest Place in the World," how does Natsu feel about her menstrual cycle?

4. In Book One: Chapter 6, "The Safest Place in the World," why does Natsu feel a pressure in their chest while watching the ferris wheel?

5. In Book One: Chapter 3, "Whose Boobs Are They?", what does Natsu want more than anything?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Book One: Chapter 6, "The Safest Place In The World," what is the significance of Natsu's irregular menstrual cycle, and how does it reflect her changing perspective on life and time passing by?

2. 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?

3. In Book One: Chapter 5, "Up All Night Talking," how does Natsu's contemplation of the books on her bookshelf reflect her evolving perspective on literature and the canonical works she once revered?

4. In Book One: Chapter 2, "To Be More Beautiful," how does Natsu feel about Makiko's decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery?

5. 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?

6. In Book One: Chapter 1, "Are You Poor?," how does Natsu describe her current life in Tokyo? What aspects of her life and career contribute to her feelings of stagnation and isolation?

7. 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?

8. 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?

9. 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?

10. In Book One: Chapter 4, "Out For Chinese," how does the Chinese restaurant in the story symbolize a sense of community and inclusivity in Shobashi?

(see the answer keys)

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