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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 was surprising about the Japanese behavior?

2. What was one reason Perry was happy with the treaty?

3. What did the merchants fail to do after being in Shimoda for three months?

4. What will the U.S. get compared to other nations in the future?

5. When did the Shogun die?

Short Essay Questions

1. When did Kayama meet with the fleet and what did he tell them?

2. Enumerate the major points of the treaty that was signed between the United States and Japan.

3. What was the Commodore's first impression of Shimoda.

4. How did the two cultures meet face to face and what did the people of the two countries think of the other?

5. How did the behaviors of the Shimoda villagers change and what was the result?

6. What was the first approach the Japanese took towards the United States request for a treaty?

7. Who was Sam Patch and why was he terrified? What happened?

8. What did Perry's arrival precipitate?

9. When was the Treaty House completed and what did Commodore Perry demand that they change?

10. How did the Americans impress the Japanese as the Americans came ashore?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not? Do you think Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun has a "happy" ending?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

One major theme of Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun is that of the meeting of two dissimilar cultures and how the two cultures evolved to signing a treaty of mutual benefit. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast some of the major cultural differences between the Americans and Japanese. Consider differences in the area of food, art, gender, and warfare.

2. The Japanese and the Americans each thought the other group barbaric. Discuss the term barbaric and analyze the ways in which each group applied the word to the other. Is either group accurate in naming the other barbaric? Discuss with examples.

3. Discuss the advantages of two cultures having a mutual exchange of ideas, trade and military support.

4. Discuss the disadvantages of two cultures having a mutual exchange of ideas, trade and military support.

Essay Topic 3

The Industrial Revolution is mentioned a number of times in the novel Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the level of technology present in Japan to the level present in the United States in the mid-1800s.

2. Research and discuss the technological inventions that amazed the Japanese people: These include the steam engine, telegraph, camera, telescope, rifles and folding ladder. When was each invented? How different was the invention then compared to a similar thing today? Are any of the "new" inventions from that time no longer in use now? Which ones? Why are they no longer in use?

3. The Shogunate deliberately kept Japan from becoming industrialized through keeping Japan isolated. Discuss why you think the Shogunate made this decision.

(see the answer keys)

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