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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 2, "To Be More Beautiful," why does Makiko decide against fat injections for breast augmentation?
(a) She does not have enough fat to use for the procedure.
(b) It is too expensive for her budget.
(c) It requires a lengthy and painful recovery.
(d) It often results in unnatural-looking breasts.

2. In Book One: Chapter 4, "Out For Chinese," how does Natsu react when Kewpie asks her to sing a song?
(a) She sings confidently and passionately.
(b) She pretends not to hear him and avoids the situation.
(c) She asks Kewpie to sing a song instead.
(d) She declines and hides behind the bar in embarrassment.

3. In Book One: Chapter 6, "The Safest Place in the World," what does Midoriko write in her notebook at the end of the passage?
(a) Because of the color.
(b) Feeling nostalgic.
(c) Thinking about the past.
(d) Remembering the ferris wheel.

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

5. In Book One: Chapter 5, "Up All Night Talking," how does Natsu react when they realize the woman at the door is the landlord?
(a) They invite her in for a drink.
(b) They apologize for not answering the calls.
(c) They pretend not to be home.
(d) They are surprised to see her at their door.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Book One: Chapter 3, "Whose Boobs Are They?", what does the old lady do when she enters the bathhouse?

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

3. In Book One: Chapter 1, "Are You Poor?," what worries the Natsu about the girl on the train who seems poor?

4. In Book One: Chapter 2, "To Be More Beautiful," how often does Makiko call Natsu after their initial conversation about breast augmentation surgery?

5. In Book One: Chapter 4, "Out For Chinese," what does Makiko do when she gets home from work?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. In Book One: Chapter 2, "To Be More Beautiful," how has Makiko's behavior changed regarding her decision to undergo breast augmentation, and what does Natsu notice about their late-night conversations?

3. In Book One: Chapter 4, "Out For Chinese," describe the atmosphere and setting of the Chinese restaurant where the characters are dining. How does the environment reflect the restaurant's reputation?

4. In Book One: Chapter 3, "Whose Boobs Are They?" who is Yamagu, and what memories does Natsu associate with her?

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 4, "Out For Chinese," how does the Chinese restaurant in the story symbolize a sense of community and inclusivity in Shobashi?

7. In Book One: Chapter 5, "Up All Night Talking," how does the conversation between Makiko and Natsu about Kewpie, the local legend in Shobashi, highlight the complexities of human behavior and the ambiguous moral dilemmas faced by individuals in difficult situations?

8. 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?

9. 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?

10. 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?

(see the answer keys)

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