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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. Richard tells Shimoda as he is dying that he didn't think Shimoda had any ____________.

2. Richard says that he doesn't care if he loses part of his audience because he knows ______ and talks what he talks.

3. Shimoda asks Richard if he can name anyone who _____________.

4. Richard tries a shorter answer: He allows both the ________ and himself to live as they choose.

5. What does the host of the radio show suggest is somehow illegal?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Shimoda tell Richard to do in order to help Richard get straight answers from him?

2. What does Shimoda declare about humans in general? What are they capable of?

3. Describe the vision that Shimoda walks back with after walking toward the shadow?

4. Why did Shimoda add the gore of a shotgun death?

5. What causes Richard to threaten violence to the vision Shimoda shows to Richard?

6. What does Richard answer to Shimoda's question of how Richard can expect to impress the workday world when he runs around as a gypsy pilot?

7. What is Richard doing when he overhears his boyhood favorite song, Greensleeves?

8. When does Shimoda confess to feeling lonely in his life?

9. What is the question Richard then formulates when he begins to do the thing which is the answer to #33?

10. What is the concise answer Richard gives to Shimoda's question from #45?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The book Shimoda gives to Richard reveals as many questions as the answers it provides to a person who reads it.

Part 1: What might this Savior's Manual be akin to in real life? What books in real life might provide the same counsel?

Part 2: Why might Richard need to be given a book to learn from, rather than being taught what he needs to know?

Part 3: Why doesn't the book give direct answers to those who read it?

Essay Topic 2

The assassination of Shimoda has been alluded to throughout the book, though it's no less shocking when it does happen.

Part 1: Describe the scene in which Shimoda is killed.

Part 2: What is Richard's reaction to the killing of Shimoda?

Part 3: What is the result of Shimoda's assassination? What happened to Richard as a result?

Essay Topic 3

The references to Christianity are many in this book. They allow the reader to see the similarities in the stories, as well as some obvious differences.

Part 1: Cite at least two scenes that might be comparable to Biblical stories.

Part 2: Might Shimoda be the person some call Jesus? Why or why not?

Part 3: What does this book seem to be saying about the idea of religion?

(see the answer keys)

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