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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. How long has Ichiro been away from home?

2. Who reads the letter sent to Ichiro's mother?

3. Why does Kenji want to go to Portland?

4. Japanese people on the West Coast were separated into various groups, depending on their allegiance to Japan because of what event?

5. Why are Kenji and Ichiro becoming better friends?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ichiro want to go to Portland?

2. Describe Ichiro's family and their attitude toward each other.

3. What is a conscientious objector?

4. How does Ichiro's father get him to leave the house after Ichiro fought with his mother?

5. Explain why "good" Japanese-Americans were allowed to fight in the U.S. military against Japan?

6. What was the American attitude toward Japanese after the bombing of Pearl Harbor?

7. Where has Freddie been before he recently returned home five weeks ago?

8. Why does Ichiro call his mother crazy in Chapter 2?

9. How is Freddie spending his time and why?

10. Why does Ichiro call Taro a fool?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the discrimination against blacks and Japanese-Americans throughout the book. Give examples. What were some parallels in the way the two minority groups were treated? How did they treat one another? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Explain in detail at least three reasons why Ichiro's father drank so heavily. Give an alternative solution for those three reasons.

Essay Topic 3

Explain why Kenji being an injured decorated war veteran was so important to the novel. Why was his injury and pain such an important component in his character makeup? What would have changed throughout the novel had he been happy, healthy, and a celebrated solider?

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