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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. As Chapter 12 closes, what do Wegener and Tedeki realize is the source of Tagomi's despair?
(a) His loss of a trusted assistant.
(b) His break from his Buddhist beliefs.
(c) The ruin of his most prized artifact.
(d) The knowledge that he will be demoted.

2. As Chapter 10 closes, how does Tagomi's message from the I Ching come true?
(a) Mr. Yatabe has finally arrived.
(b) Childan's gift has been delivered.
(c) His office has been wiretapped.
(d) Ramsey is actually the spy.

3. In what way does Frank feel Juliana can use her talent to help the Edfrank Jewelry business?
(a) She can make the shop more efficient.
(b) She can bring in more financial backing.
(c) She can help them sell their jewelry.
(d) She can create more attractive pieces.

4. While Tagomi studies the jewelry he purchased, what does he come to understand as the real power of a true artist?
(a) Bringing the dead to life.
(b) Disguising world suffering.
(c) Perpetuating life's lies.
(d) Imitating his natural surroundings.

5. In Chapter 9, what does Joe admit to really being career-wise?
(a) A book reviewer.
(b) A clothing designer.
(c) An armed guard.
(d) A military policeman.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Tagomi fear about The Oracle that has him so upset?

2. Why is Frank petrified when the police call him Fink?

3. What does Tagomi do to spite Reiss?

4. What does Juliana forget to do when she speaks to Abendsen's wife?

5. As Chapter 14 opens, what is Tagomi doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Wegener speaks of the political situation of the Third Reich and its plans for Japan. As he explains what the Japanese must do to protect their own interests and country, Tagomi grows more and more upset. Why, if Wegener is trying to help, is Tagomi so disturbed?

2. In Chapter 9, Joe accuses Juliana of being guilty of "worry, fear, and suspicion about him and everything else in the world." In what way is this true? Are her feelings well founded? What might this be foreshadowing?

3. Paul's proposal to mass market the Edfrank Jewelry is turned down by Childan, despite the fact this could have made him very wealthy. What has the jewelry come to symbolize to Childan that makes it more important than wealth? How does this realization affect him?

4. As her concern about Joe and his real identity and intentions grow, Juliana's thoughts revert to Frank. First, she thinks, "Frank. Help me. I'm into something I don't understand." A bit later she informs Joe, "My husband is a Jew." What does this suggest about her feelings about Frank? What is further revealed about her character?

5. As Childan reflects on how his beliefs have been shaken, he pities himself as being a salesman who has to deal with people like Tagomi, who, in his words, "by merest reflection manage to rub my nose in it, make my life miserable." In what way does this statement take an ironic twist in light of how he treats McCarthy and makes plans for Edfrank Jewelry?

6. As Juliana continues to read The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, the reader learns more of its contents. What are some ways Abendsen has changed the history of his world? What do Juliana's and Joe's reactions to these changes say about each of them?

7. Chapter 10 focuses on the internal and external conflicts faced by Baynes. What are these conflicts? What do they suggest about his character?

8. Paul sees The Grasshopper Lies Heavy as being "possibly within the genre of science fiction." Betty disagrees because "science fiction deals with the future, in particular where science has advanced over now." Paul notes, however, that "it deals with an alternate present" as many well-known science fiction novels do. How do their definitions fit into the classifying of The High Castle as science fiction? Is there anything you would add to their definition?

9. In Chapter 8, upon entering the Kasoura neighborhood, Childan thinks to himself, "I do not belong here." In what way is this statement true? What does the author draw upon from actual history to depict this scene?

10. Toward the end of Chapter 14, Reiss comes to visit Tagomi. What is the purpose of his visit? How does Tagomi react to this? What is this further revealing about Tagomi's character in light of the conflicts he has been facing, both externally and internally?

(see the answer keys)

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