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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. Once Mrs. Nakamura takes her children out into the street, what does she worry about?

2. What is Miss Toshinki Sasaki's profession?

3. What happens when Mr. Tanimoto finds his wife after the bombing?

4. What did those who were burnt beg for?

5. At Asano Park, how do the wounded die?

Short Essay Questions

1. What explains why so many citizens who are hurt go unattended and why so many citizens who might have lived die?

2. What may have saved Dr. Sasaki's life the morning of the bomb?

3. How does Mr. Fukai, the secretary of the diocese, behave after Hiroshima is hit by the bomb?

4. The day of the bombing, what is Mr. Tanimoto's morning like?

5. What is the atmosphere like at Asano Park?

6. Describe Dr. Terufumi Sasaki.

7. What steps does Mrs. Nakamura take after the bombing?

8. Describe Dr. Fujii's private clinic.

9. Describe Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura.

10. What is the manner in which Miss Sasaki is rescued?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Japanese government's response to the bombing.

1) Why is the government slow to respond to the victims of the bombing? Cite three examples from the book.

2) When and why does the government begin to respond to the citizens of Hiroshima who were affected by the bomb?

3) How do the characters in the book view their government's response to the bomb? Do they blame their government for the Hiroshima bombing? What about the bombing of Nagasaki? Cite three examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

Except for a few occasions, John Hersey remains objective throughout the book.

1. Cite the places where the author is subjective and discuss what his subjectiveness suggests about his views on the atomic bomb.

2. How does the author's detachment of the narration affect the reader's own emotions?

3. What is Hersey's objective in relating the story using such an unemotional tone?

Essay Topic 3

The Reverend Mr. Tanimoto and Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge both seek to convert people to Christianity.

Part 1) Compare and contrast the characters of Mr. Tanimoto to that of Father Kleinsorge. How are they similar? How are they different?

Part 2) Is Father Kleinsorge more concerned with saving lives or with converting people to Christianity? What about in the case of Mr. Tanimoto? Cite three examples that prove your theory.

Part 3) Discuss the morality behind Father Kleinsorge's influence over Miss Sasaki's life choices.

(see the answer keys)

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