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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 does the narrator bring to Sonoko when he first seeks her out?

2. How old is the narrator when he attempts to lose his virginity?

3. In what year does the narrator graduate from high school?

4. What does Sonoko feel for Mr. Ohba?

5. For what does the narrator give Sonoko a hard time following their break-up?

Short Essay Questions

1. Prior to his draft meeting, the narrator suspects his health will make him what?

2. When the narrator pretends not to understand what a sodomite is, how do the guys around him react?

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

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

5. Upon witnessing the sight of the air raid victims, what does the narrator want to do?

6. When the narrator learns Sonoko plans to leave town to avoid the air raids, how does he feel and why?

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

8. After the narrator kisses Sonoko, what does she expect from him?

9. After the visitation with Kusano, what sight confronts the narrator on his train ride home?

10. Why does the narrator offer to carry Sonoko's bag?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The war changes the country of Japan and those who experienced it.

1) Describe the country as it was before the war.

2) Explain how the war changes the people of Japan.

3) Explain how the war changes the narrator.

Essay Topic 2

The narrator constantly struggles to hide his sexuality from others. In an attempt to appear straight, he agrees to go to a brothel with a classmate.

1) Why does the classmate invite him?

2) Why does the narrator go?

3) What is his experience at the brothel?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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