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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. What happens to Freddie after he runs away from the fight in the alley?

2. What was Ichiro's flashback about?

3. Why does Kenji want to write Ralph a letter?

4. Who is Ichiro fighting in the alley?

5. Who is Ichiro going to work with at the Christian Rehabilitation Center?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ichiro's father feel a sense of relief following Ichiro's mother's death?

2. What does the violent ending provide Ichiro?

3. Why does Kenji tell Ichiro to go back to Seattle without him?

4. How does Freddie die?

5. What is the turning point in Ichiro's parent's marriage?

6. Why does Ichiro go to the Christian Rehabilitation Center?

7. What does Ichiro's behavior to the Japanese waiter at the Burnside Cafe symbolize?

8. What is Ichiro's father so impressed with at Ichiro's mother's funeral?

9. What does Kenji bring as a present for his father and why?

10. What makes Kenji's family different from Ichiro's family?

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

What would you have done if you had to chose between going to prison, fighting in a war you didn't believe in, or going to a relocation camp? Would your decision change if you didn't have any family? What sorts of things would you consider while making your decision?

Essay Topic 3

Why do you think Ichiro's mother never wanted to introduce American customs to her family? Why was she adamant about maintaining only Japanese traditions in the household? How does her attitude toward America contribute to her unwillingness to believe Japan has lost the war?

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This section contains 624 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample