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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. For what reason does Tanimura dislike baths?
(a) He is scared of water.
(b) He gets bored.
(c) He does not like to get wrinkled skin.
(d) He has a phobia about germs.

2. What baseball reference does Tanimura use to indicate how far he had gone sexually with his girlfriend before going to college and breaking up with her?
(a) Sliding into second base.
(b) Rounding third base.
(c) Rounding second base.
(d) Home run.

3. Kafuki tells Watari that he likes what objects because they are "easier than CDs" (9)?
(a) Eight Tracks.
(b) Reel-to-Reels.
(c) Cassettes.
(d) Records.

4. What major is Kitaru's long-term girlfriend pursuing?
(a) Biology.
(b) Dance.
(c) Environmental Science.
(d) French Literature.

5. At 18, Tanimura had thought that what quality "constitutes who we are as people" (45)?
(a) The language we speak.
(b) The food we eat.
(c) The women we love.
(d) The vulnerabilities we display.

Short Answer Questions

1. When making a point about the obscurity of the Kansai dialect, Kitaru's long-time girlfriend declares that no one has ever translated which book into the Kansai dialect?

2. Who is the narrator of the story "Yesterday"?

3. For what period of time does the friendship between Kafuku and Takatsuki last?

4. From what location does Tanimura hail?

5. Tanimura's father had worked in what position during Tanimura's childhood?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the theme of regret depicted within Kafuku's reflections on his late wife and their life together?

2. What does the narrator describe as "the most excruciating thing" (17) about Kafuku's experience of knowing about his wife's affairs?

3. What precipitates Kafuku's need for a driver?

4. Describe Misaki Watari's appearance.

5. Which of Misaki Watari's qualities make her a perfect fit for her role as Kafuku's personal driver?

6. What evidence does Kafuku give for his claim that Misaki Watari is an "excellent driver" (9)?

7. How does Kitaru justify to Tanimura his butchering of the lyrics to the Beatles' song Yesterday?

8. How does Kitaru feel about "things being smooth and comfortable" (52) in life?

9. What is the significance of Kafuku's reaction to sitting in the passenger seat of his Saab after 12 years of driving?

10. Discuss Kafuku's history with his beloved Saab.

(see the answer keys)

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