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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 much whiskey does Ichiro's father drink just before Ichiro returns from Portland?

2. Who does Ichiro give Kenji's car to?

3. What old friend does Ichiro see again at his mother's funeral?

4. What does Freddie want Ichiro to do with him at after the funeral?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How does Ichiro cause Bull's face to gush with blood?

4. What does Ichiro finally start to understand about his past after taking the job at the Christian Rehabilitation Center?

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

6. What does Kenji's family do together that night?

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

8. What makes the priest at the funeral stand out?

9. Why does Tommy's memory stand out in Ichiro's mind?

10. Why is the violent ending to the book so significant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast who was the bigger coward: Ichiro or Taro. Be sure to define "coward" in your essay.

Essay Topic 2

Describe how other characters influenced Ichiro throughout the book. Use specific examples of how at least three different characters influenced Ichiro in either a positive or negative manner. Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Do you think Ichiro will be a happy man someday? Answer these questions in your response:

1) What will it take for him to be happy?

2) What will it take for him to get over his past?

3) Who is responsible for his happiness?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 560 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample