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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. Why does Ono admire Sugimura?

2. What news does Ono give Matsuda about Noriko?

3. What does Ono say during his last conversation with Matsuda about his present-day perspective on life?

4. What does Ono believe should give Matsuda and him satisfaction as they review their lives?

5. Why does Ichiro say spinach is his favorite food?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ono believe a teacher should regard his students diverging from his teachings?

2. What do we learn about Setsuko from Ono's conversation with Matsuda?

3. The reader learns some news about Noriko at the same time Matsuda does. What is the news?

4. What does Matsuda believe was his and Ono's great misfortune?

5. What does Matsuda say about his own perspective now that he is old and ill?

6. What effect did Moriyama try to create in his paintings?

7. How has Ichiro changed in the year since Ono last saw him?

8. How does Ono answer Ichiro's question about why men drink sake?

9. When does Ono achieve his greatest feeling of triumph?

10. Why does Ono admire Sugimura's work on Kawabe Park, even though Sugimura failed to accomplish his goals?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

What difference do you see in the way Ono interacts with his daughters and his grandson and the way Noriko describes his earlier behavior as a father? Do you trust her description? Do you think he has changed? Analyze Ono's development as a father based on his daughters' responses to him.

Essay Topic 3

Ono expresses the belief that his confession of guilt about his war activities rescued the miai from discomfort, and made relaxed social interaction possible. Do you think other characters would have the same opinion? Would things look different from another perspective? Tell the story of the miai from Noriko's point of view.

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