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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 activity does Kafuku love to do, "regardless of the season" (6)?
(a) Eat ice cream.
(b) Swim.
(c) Drive with his convertible's top down.
(d) Riding in the back of Oba's pickup truck.

2. What precipitates the end of the friendship between Kafuku and Takatsuki?
(a) Takatusuki moves to a different country.
(b) Kafuku moves to a different country.
(c) Takatsuki cuts off all contact with Kafuku.
(d) Kafuku cuts off all contact with Takatsuki.

3. Tanimura's mother had worked in what position during Tanimura's childhood?
(a) Psychologist.
(b) Teacher.
(c) Writer.
(d) Librarian.

4. The girlfriend from whom Tanimura parted before college hailed from what location?
(a) Shukugawa.
(b) Okinawa.
(c) Ashiya.
(d) Kansai.

5. For what period of time does the friendship between Kafuku and Takatsuki last?
(a) 6 months.
(b) 2 months.
(c) 3 months.
(d) 9 months.

Short Answer Questions

1. For what reason does Kitaru's long-time girlfriend agree to a date with Tanimura?

2. What had Kafuku's marital state been at the time he bought his new convertible car?

3. The last line of the story "Drive My Car" states that Kafuku feels in what way about Misaki's silence in response to his comment that he is going to sleep for a little while?

4. From what location does Kitaru hail?

5. How often does Kafuku draw "distinctions between men and women in his daily life" (4)?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. In what activities do Erika and Tanimura take part during their date together?

7. How does Tanimura characterize the Kansai dialect spoken by his friend Kitaru?

8. How does Kafuku feel about Misaki Watari's tendency to remain quiet as she drives?

9. How is the theme of transformation depicted within the ending of the story "Drive My Car"?

10. What vivid image does Tanimura create to depict the character of Kitaru in the first few lines of the story "Yesterday"?

(see the answer keys)

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