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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. Who writes a letter to the narrator, requesting information on his intent with Sonoko?

2. After the war, who close to the narrator dies?

3. What does the narrator study in college?

4. After visiting Kusano, how does the narrator feel?

5. After kissing Sonoko, what does the narrator consider for the first time in his life?

Short Essay Questions

1. When the narrator sets out on a bicycle ride with Sonoko, what does he want to happen?

2. What is the narrator's opinion of the factory that produces war planes?

3. What does the narrator ask Kusano regarding the relationship he ended with Sonoko?

4. When the narrator is excused from the draft, what is he surprised to realize?

5. Why does the narrator allow Chieko to kiss him?

6. In addition to being the first female the narrator feels capable of loving, what additional benefit does Sonoko offer the narrator?

7. On the train, what does the narrator do that makes Sonoko blush?

8. How does the narrator feel after going to the brothel?

9. What event takes place that proves to the narrator he is capable of basic, human emotion?

10. What impresses the narrator about the refugees that he sees?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When the narrator loses his sister, he experiences true devastation over the loss of a loved one. This surprises him, as believed himself incapable of feeling true emotion because of a lifetime of masks. Write an essay taking a stand on whether the narrator ever truly lost himself because of the masks that he wore.

1) Why does the narrator begin wearing masks?

2) How do these masks distance him from real life?

3) Does the narrator ever really lose himself? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Upon meeting Omi, the narrator is confronted with sexual feelings for the boy.

1) What intimate moment do Omi and the narrator share that begins their friendship?

2) What attracts the narrator to Omi?

3) How does this attraction affect the narrator?

Essay Topic 3

The imagery and metaphor of masks appear throughout the novel. Choose three examples of this type of imagery from the text and analyze its purpose in the story.

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