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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 position is Shintaro applying for?

2. What kind of mistakes does Ono believe are not shameful?

3. What does Kuroda explain to Ono while they sit around the table in Migi-Hidari?

4. How does Shintaro embarrass Mrs. Kawakami?

5. What does Ono advise Mrs. Kawakami to do with the profit from selling her bar?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ono acquire his house for less than half its value?

2. How does the Bridge of Hesitation get its name?

3. Why does Ono lose respect for Shintaro?

4. Why does Ono decide to watch Mitsuo during the miai?

5. What does Ono see as the result of his confession during the miai?

6. What does Shintaro ask Ono to do for him?

7. How does Saito regard the demonstrations in the streets?

8. What is the difference in Noriko's behavior between her first and second miai?

9. How does Ono persuade the authorities that the Migi-Hidari should be built in the pleasure district?

10. What does Ono conceal from Noriko in the weeks leading up to her miai?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ono recalls a rumor that Sugimura built a long corridor in his house to distance himself from his parents. Analyze Ono's relationship with his own father and with his two mentors, Takeda and Moriyama. Consider also that his daughters have moved at a distance from him, visiting only once a year. What do you think Ishiguro is telling his readers about parent-child relationships? Do you agree with his ideas?

Essay Topic 2

At the miai, Saito suggests that boys should not be confined, but should be allowed to run free even when they hurt themselves. He uses this as an argument in support of the street demonstrations which he views as legitimate use of freedom of speech. The maturation of boys to men is a significant theme in this story. The men, from Matsuda arguing with his caregiver, Suzuki, to Ono's arguments with his daughters about Ichiro seeing a scary movie and drinking sake, argue for freedom and the women urge restraint and greater care. Using examples from the text, select one character and write about their maturation process. Ichiro, Kenji, Kuroda, or Ono himself would be good possibilities. Are these developing men symbols of their country as a whole? is it, as Taro Saito suggests, a baby democracy learning how to govern itself?

Essay Topic 3

There are several places in this story where a character's speech does not reflect their actual opinions. Setsuko's conversations with her father are examples. Select and analyze a scene where you are able to establish that what is being said is not genuine. How do you know? How is the writer able to convey that double message to you as a reader?

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