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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 doing when the bomb drops?

3. Why does Dr. Fujii have to get up early on the morning the bomb is dropped?

4. What does the man who tries to rescue Miss Sasaki tell her?

5. What do the Japanese call the B-29?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Mr. Tanimoto encounter on his way to and from finding his wife and baby?

3. How does Mrs. Nakamura and her children spend the night prior to the bombing?

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

5. Describe Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge.

6. What are the weather and conditions like as Dr. Fujii walks over the bridge after the bombing?

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

8. Describe Reverend Mr. Tanimoto.

9. What is Mrs. Nakamura doing the morning of the bombing?

10. What are some of the reasons people pour into Asano Park?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

People make various theories about what the Americans dropped on Japan on August 6, 1945.

1. What events leading to the bomb and the consequences thereafter cause the Japanese people to be utterly confused as to what the Americans dropped on Hiroshima?

2. What was the purpose behind the American government not warning the people of the bomb?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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