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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Childan in the business of selling?
(a) Local modern art.
(b) Abandoned real estate.
(c) Japanese made souvenirs.
(d) Historic American artifacts.

2. In Chapter 6, what does The Oracle predict that further distresses Tagomi?
(a) His own death.
(b) His wife will leave him.
(c) A global catastrophe..
(d) The destruction of the PSA.

3. What does Frank's use of the I Ching suggest about him?
(a) He puts faith in its advice.
(b) He yearns for Japanese acceptance.
(c) He has no one to talk to.
(d) He is of Oriental heritage.

4. What does the mystery client encourage Childan to report?
(a) Missing items to the authorities
(b) Discovered forgeries to the police.
(c) Increased customer demands to his suppliers.
(d) Shipping failures to the Trade Commission.

5. What makes Juliana certain she and Joe could never be part of the colonization on other planets?
(a) Their illicit relationship.
(b) Their physical features.
(c) Their personal fears.
(d) Their political views.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Frank's memory of the landlord Omuro being beheaded by the Japanese Mission because of profiteering off ex-servicemen say about the Japanese?

2. What do phrases like "the fussy, brisk voice," "barely polite," and "deliberately mispronounced his name" initially tell us about Tagomi's character?

3. What is it about Ramsey that makes Tagomi unwilling to share all the information about Baynes with him?

4. What does the reader learn about Albert Speer's approach to revitalizing the USA, as evidenced in New York City?

5. What does Tagomi receive that makes him become suspicious of Baynes's real intentions?

Short Essay Questions

1. Compare the reactions of Childan, Calvin and Wyndam-Matson to the discovery of the fake guns. What point does the author seem to be making about the business world as he sees it?

2. In Chapter 4, Frank speaks of Gresham's Law. What does this law suggest? How does Childan's reaction to the discovery about some of his merchandise reflect his understanding of the importance of this law?

3. In Chapter 5, Tagomi tells Baynes that many books like the I Ching and The Bible are alive. What does he mean by this? How does this appear to be supported in the text up to the close of this chapter ?

4. In Chapter 1, the author introduces the characters of Mr. Tagomi and the Kasouras as clients of Childan through the juxtaposition of conversations he has with each. What do we learn about each as a result? How do these clients compare?

5. Chapter 1 introduces the setting of the novel as being in San Francisco twenty years after World War II. What signs are there that there has been a different outcome to this war from the history as we know it?

6. When told by the university that "there is a regular industry turning out these fakes," Childan gets angry and insists that this is only a rumor. Why is he in such denial even when the proof lies before him?

7. At the close of Chapter 6, we find Frank and McCarthy excited about starting their jewelry business. Despite this, Frank has some real concerns. Why? Are they legitimate?

8. One aspect of science fiction is that there is an element of the real world in it. What similarities can be seen in World War II and its aftermath as related in the High Castle and the history as we know it?

9. What do we learn about Hawthorne Abendsen, the author of The Grasshopper Lies Heavy? How does Juliana feel about this novel as compared to Joe?

10. One way an author can develop character is through descriptions of physical appearance and behavior. What descriptions does the author give of Wyndam-Matson? How do these descriptions reflect the way he runs his business in regard to such things as his treatment of employees, production, and such?

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