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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. What did the Japanese who served the Dutch swear?

2. What happened in Edo when the messengers arrived?

3. What were the two ships that were not steamships?

4. When did Spanish Jesuits settle in Japan?

5. What was one of the characteristics of this era in question #73?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the scene when the Susquehanna and Mississippi landed.

2. What percentage of Japanese were farmers and what was their life like?

3. Describe the two opposing camps to the idea of a treaty with the Americans.

4. What was special about the Englishman, Will Adams?

5. Describe the Dutch's visit to Edo to see the head Shogun.

6. What had Japan been like before the time of Commodore Perry's arrival?

7. What happened on Friday, July 8th, 1853, at the opening of the book?

8. What was the composition of the American forces arriving in Japan?

9. Describe the time before this setting when the Japanese were not cut off from the rest of the world.

10. Who is Nakajima and what does he tell the Americans and what was Perry's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Japan had maintained a fairly rigid policy of isolationism for many years before Commodore Perry arrived, except for a brief period of more openness in the 1500s. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term isolationism mean in context of a country's foreign policy?

2. Discuss three reasons the ruling class of Japan may have had to maintain a policy of isolationism.

3. Discuss three reasons you think the policy of isolationism was not beneficial to the Japanese people.

4. Do you think in this century (end of first decade of 21st century), it is possible for

Essay Topic 2

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Commodore Perry is no exception.

1. Trace and analyze situations when Commodore Perry demonstrates his admirable traits. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Commodore Perry's character flaws, and explain how the flaws help or hinder his obtaining his objectives.

3. After analyzing Commodore Perry's strengths and weaknesses, decide if he is an appropriate "hero" of the story. Is there anyone else who might be a more admirable "hero"?

Essay Topic 3

In the world of academe, historical fiction is often considered an inferior form of the novel compared to "classic" literature. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think historical fiction might be considered second-rate compared to the classics, such as books by an author such as Charles Dickens?

2. Do you think historical fiction has the same elements as the classics? Why or why not?

3. What are the purposes do you think for people reading "the classics"? What are the purposes for people reading historical fiction? Is one purpose better than another? Explain your response.

4. Would you read historical fiction even outside an educational setting? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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