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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 does Naoko say is her favorite time of day?

2. What do we learn happens to Hatsumi?

3. In what grade is Reiko's daughter?

4. Who taught Hatsumi to play pool?

5. In what city is Toru, years later, when he is reminded of Hatsumi?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens in the middle of the night the first night Toru is in the women's apartment that is unusual?

2. What happens in the middle of the night on Toru's second night in the women's apartment?

3. What kind of student was the young girl Reiko taught?

4. What is Naoko and Reiko's first morning job?

5. How does Midori describe her father's funeral?

6. Describe Naoko's sister.

7. What is Reiko's advice for Toru regarding Midori?

8. What happens the first time Toru sees Nagasawa after the celebration dinner?

9. What does Toru usually do on Sundays?

10. What happened to precipitate Reiko's first mental breakdown?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the author's use of foreshadowing throughout this novel enhance or detract from the story? Be specific.

Essay Topic 2

Using several examples, discuss how Murakami uses the recurring motif of a group of three characters throughout the novel to develop Toru's character.

Essay Topic 3

One of the motifs Murakami uses in his novel to represent the disconnect between society and individuals is unexplained suicide. Explain how he uses this motif to enhance the theme(s) of his novel.

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