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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 is one of Natsuki's jobs at the mountain house?

2. Which teacher tells Natsuki she is doing well and could improve even more?

3. Which relatives of Natsuki's own the mountain house?

4. What do the adults always do in celebration of the holiday at the family gathering at the mountain house each year?

5. What does Yuu say he and Natsuki should take in the spaceship with them?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which relative is always kind to the children in Natsuki's family?

2. What does Mr. Igasaki make Natsuki do early in Part II that is humiliating?

3. What is Yuu's problem with Mitsuko?

4. What childhood fantasy does Natsuki have in Part I?

5. In Chapter 2, how does Natsuki refer to her town as an adult?

6. What do the adults always ask the children to do at the mountain house when they first arrive which is part of tradition?

7. Why do Natsuki and her family leave Akishina early in Part I?

8. In Part II, why does Natsuki's family go to Obon after all?

9. In Part II, what does Natsuki desperately want to do with Yuu?

10. Why is Natsuki barred from being a pallbearer in Part II?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Murata describe Tomoya's near-obsession with Akishina? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

What are the expectations for both men and women in Natsuki's society, as Murata describes them to the reader? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Why do you think Natsuki recognizes engaging in cannibalism as a taboo that it will be impossible to rejoin polite society after taking part in? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

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