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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 Natsuki do for a living?

2. Who does Natsuki consider her boyfriend?

3. What does Yuu ask Natsuki to look for with him?

4. What does Natsuki tell her husband her family would always buy in the spring?

5. What does Natsuki's husband usually eat?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Yuu tell Natsuki he believes about himself that makes him special?

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

4. How do Natsuki and Tomoya meet?

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

6. Why do all the adults in Natsuki's family get so angry and upset with her and Yuu?

7. How does Natsuki feel her mother treats her younger sister Kise?

8. How does Natsuki feel her mother treats her?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Yuu distinguish between the acts of living and surviving? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Do you think Murata's portrayal of the rigidity of Japanese society seems realistic? Why or why not? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay critiquing Murata's plot choices at the end of this novel, particularly regarding the eventual "rescue" of Natsuki, Tomoya, and Yuu.

(see the answer keys)

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