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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 Natsuki's last name?

2. What holiday does Natsuki gather with her father's extended family for every year?

3. Where does Natsuki's family keep her at the mountain house before taking her home?

4. What excuse does Mr. Igasaki make for touching Natsuki's body?

5. What does Natsuki often say to her mother to get her mother to stop abusing her?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Part II, why does the family decide not to go to Akishina for Obon?

2. How does Natsuki feel about going to granny and grandpa's every year?

3. How does Natsuki's mother react when she tells her that Mr. Igasaki is acting inappropriately?

4. What refrain does Natsuki constantly repeat to her mother to please her?

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

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

7. What happens to Natsuki after Mr. Igasaki sexually abuses her?

8. What plan does Natsuki make to try to escape her misery?

9. What is really unusual about Natsuki's and Tomoya's marriage?

10. What is Yuu's problem with Mitsuko?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Murata describe the effects of Natsuki's mother's favoritism on her childhood and adolescence? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay exploring the symbolism Murata intends to convey through Natsuki's, Tomoya's, and Yuu's acts of eating each other while still alive.

Essay Topic 3

How does Murata describe Natsuki's experience of Mr. Igasaki's murder? Why might it be described in this way? 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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