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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. After the fact, the narrator thinks of Chieko's kiss as what?

2. Whom does Sonoko's mother send to chaperon her?

3. When the narrator returns to school in Chapter 3, what health ailment does he fake?

4. When hearing air raid sirens, what does the boy look forward to?

5. After breaking up with Sonoko, what exams does the narrator prepare for?

Short Essay Questions

1. When does the narrator get his first opportunity to spend time with Sonoko?

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

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

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

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

6. What does the narrator believe is possible, in terms of partnering with a woman?

7. After the visitation with Kusano, why does the narrator become determined to love Sonoko?

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

9. When Sonoko confronts the issue of the break-up with the narrator, what does she want to know?

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

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

The narrator goes through his life trying to convince himself and others that he is normal. What steps does the narrator take to appear normal to the following?

1) His classmates.

2) His family.

3) Women.

Essay Topic 3

Although the narrator fears death, the life he lives is not his own. Write an essay supporting the argument that the narrator lives as though he is already dead.

(see the answer keys)

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