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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. 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?

2. In Book One: Chapter 4, "Out For Chinese," what does Natsu ask Midoriko after the awkward silence?

3. In Book One: Chapter 4, "Out For Chinese," what is Midoriko's reason for not going to the baths with her mom?

4. In Book One: Chapter 4, "Out For Chinese," how does Natsu react when Kewpie asks her to sing a song?

5. In Book One: Chapter 4, "Out For Chinese," what is Natsu's reaction after singing the song?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. 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?

3. 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?

4. 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?

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 3, "Whose Boobs Are They?" how does Natsu's relationship with her sister Makiko and her niece Midoriko influence her perspective on life and her own dreams?

7. 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.

8. 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?

9. 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?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Book Two: Chapter 16, "Burning Up," Natsu revisits a place from her past and receives a surprising phone call from Aizawa. Analyze the significance of memory and nostalgia in Natsu's journey, and how these elements contribute to the development of the story and the relationships portrayed.

Essay Topic 2

In Book Two: Chapter 14, "A Stiff Upper Lip," discuss the complexities of Yuriko's feelings towards her abusive father and the conflict between a sense of duty to family and the need to protect her own well-being.

Essay Topic 3

In Book Two: Chapter 13, "A Tall Order," analyze the perspectives presented in the symposium, particularly the presenter advocating for banning the commercialization of reproductive treatments to protect human dignity. Compare and contrast different viewpoints on whether donor conception can be morally justifiable or raises ethical concerns.

(see the answer keys)

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