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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. Which character is introduced at the beginning of Chapter 3?

2. According to Masa, what was Yuki like as a young child?

3. Select the character below who says, "I won't hear about you cutting your hair."

4. According to Shizuko, why didn't Hideki cry at his mother's funeral?

5. What does Yuki do after changing her clothes on the day of the wake?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Yuki regret telling Sachiko and Mrs. Murai that her mother died in an accident? What does she wish she had said instead?

2. Why does Shizuko destroy one of the goodbye notes at the end of Chapter 1?

3. According to Yuki's stepmother, what does Yuki do to disturb her?

4. Why does Yuki feel like she must go to a college that is far away from her parents?

5. In Chapter 10, Yuki recalls how Mr. Kimura told her stories about Shizuko's years as a schoolgirl. What similarities become apparent between the young Shizuko and Yuki?

6. Is the race in Chapter 5 a metaphor for Yuki's life?

7. During Takeo's heart attack in Chapter 14, what seems to be his pervading attitude?

8. Is Yuki pleased with the changes that Yuki's stepmother makes to the family home? Why or why not?

9. Describe Yuki through Masa's eyes in the beginning of Chapter 14.

10. What does Yuki think about when she hears her friends in homemaking class complain about their mothers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the symbolism of flowers, specifically irises and azaleas, in the novel.

Part 1) Relate these symbols to Yuki's life and the novel's central themes.

Part 2) In what way do these symbols reveal Yuki's inner feelings?

Part 3) Explain how these symbols help to tell Yuki's story.

Essay Topic 2

Explore the mother-daughter relationships in the novel.

Part 1) Describe Shizuko's relationship with Yuki.

Part 2) Is Shizuko a traditional Japanese mother? Why or why not? In what way is Shizuko a role model to her daughter?

Part 3) Compare and contrast Yuki's relationship with Shizuko to Yuki's relationship with her stepmother Hanae.

Part 4) Compare and contrast Yuki's relationship with Shizuko with Sachiko's relationship with her mother, Mrs. Murai.

Essay Topic 3

For a young person, Yuki lives with a great deal of regret. Write an essay in which you explore the impact of this particular burden on Yuki. What is Yuki's biggest regret? What does she regret more, her actions or her words? Why? Do other characters regret their actions or words? If so, how do their regrets compare to those of Yuki?

(see the answer keys)

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