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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 7, "All That You Hold Dear," why is Natsu worried about Makiko's absence?

2. In Book Two: Chapter 9, "All The Little Flowers," what happens between Natsu and Naruse three years after coming to Tokyo?

3. In Book Two: Chapter 9, "All The Little Flowers," what do Natsu and Naruse talk about during their phone call after the earthquake?

4. In Book Two: Chapter 11, "I Am So Happy Cause Today...," what has changed in the bathhouse according to Natsu?

5. In Book One: Chapter 7, "All That You Hold Dear," what does Midoriko do with the eggs at the beginning of the passage?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Book One: Chapter 7, "All That You Hold Dear," discuss the motif of uncertainty and its role in driving the narrative forward.

2. In Book Two: Chapter 8, "Where Is Your Ambition," discuss Natsu's initial struggle with writing and how the success of her book marks a turning point in her career.

3. In Book Two: Chapter 12, "Merry Christmas," describe Natsu's conversation with Aizawa after the event. What do they discuss, and what information does Natsu receive from Aizawa?

4. In Book Two: Chapter 12, "Merry Christmas," what internal conflict does Natsu face regarding the idea of donor conception?

5. Book Two: Chapter 11, "I Am So Happy Cause Today...," how does Rika Yusa challenge the novelist's claims and behavior? What does this confrontation reveal about the dynamics among writers in the literary community?

6. In Book Two: Chapter 9, "All The Little Flowers," analyze Natsu's emotional response upon reconnecting with Naruse after a long period of no contact.

7. Book Two: Chapter 11, "I Am So Happy Cause Today...," how does Sengawa respond to Natsu's remarks about feeling overheated during the event? How do they end up at the afterparty?

8. In Book Two: Chapter 10, "Choose From The Following Options," discuss the impact of Natsu's research on sperm donation and fertility treatment on her thoughts and emotions.

9. In Book Two: Chapter 11, "I Am So Happy Cause Today...," describe Natsu's experience at the reading event. How does she react to the monotonous reading and the sweltering environment?

10. In Book Two: Chapter 13, "A Tall Order," analyze the protagonist's decision to attend the symposium and their encounter with Jun Aizawa. how does the interaction with Aizawa contribute to Natsu's internal conflict about donor conception, and how does it affect her emotional state?

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 One: Chapter 2, "To Be More Beautiful," discuss Makiko's contemplation of breast augmentation as a means of addressing her financial struggles and the tensions in her relationship with her daughter, Midoriko.

Essay Topic 3

In Book Two: Chapter 10, "Choose From The Following Options," explore the ethical implications of assisted reproduction, specifically focusing on the secrecy and anonymity surrounding sperm donation in Japan. Address the challenges faced by children born through donor sperm who later discover the truth about their biological parentage.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,323 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample