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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. In Chapter 22, who calls Ben asking for help?

2. Where is Ximena's husband from?

3. What major struggle does Ben's father deal with?

4. How does the reader find out Ben is HIV positive?

5. What does Ben take to his friend's house in Chapter 22?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which child is Ben closest to at the daycare, and what kinds of problems does this child have?

2. What embarrasses Ben about his father when they go out to dinner together in Chapter 19?

3. How does Ben feel about his mother's new husband and family?

4. When does Mike tell Ben he will come back to America in Chapter 22?

5. What is one of Ben's father's most serious problems?

6. What does Mitsuko mail to herself before she leaves Japan so she will have it in America?

7. In Chapter 15, what does Ben's father ask him that makes Ben realize how lonely his father is?

8. What did Mike ask Ben the night before Mike left for Japan?

9. Why is Mike leaving for Osaka, Japan, in Chapter 1?

10. Who startles Ben by asking him out on a date in Part II?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think Washington chose to split the book into two parts, with one written from Benson's perspective and one written from Mike's perspective? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think Mike decides to go back to Japan and try to make a go of running Eiju's bar after Eiju's death? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

What do you think cooking symbolizes to both Mike and Mitsuko? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your arguments.

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