View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. To whom does Shizuko write notes in Chapter 1?

2. Where does the wake take place?

3. According to Hanae, whenever she goes into the attic, she thinks of:

4. Why does her Aunt Aya ask Yuki to change her clothes before the wake?

5. What is Yuki's first response when she discovers her mother unconscious?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Yuki decide against thanking her father for letting her attend Aya's wedding?

2. What is the difference between how Yuki's grandmother keeps a house and how Yuki's stepmother keeps a house?

3. Why does Yuki sometimes feel angry toward her late mother Shizuko?

4. What are the special objects that Yuki carries with her on the day of her father's wedding? Why are these items important to her?

5. At the beginning of Chapter 7, why is Masa disappointed in Yuki?

6. Why does her Aunt Aya compliment Yuki on the day of the wake?

7. What does Hideki appreciate about the ritual of burning in Chapter 13?

8. Is Hideki affectionate toward Yuki?

9. In Chapter 4, what does Yuki regret saying to Shizuko? Why does she regret this statement?

10. Why does Mr. Kimura marry Aya? Why does he believe that his reason is not an inappropriate one?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Explore Yuki's initial distrust and avoidance of love as well as her progressive journey toward discovering and opening herself to another person.

• What are her preliminary beliefs about love?

• From where do these beliefs stem?

• What examples does she give as evidence to support her theory?

• At what point does Yuki begin to transcend her self-imposed walls and reach out to another person?

• How does Yuki's emotional journey regarding her mother's suicide bring about the change that Shizuko had desired for her?

Essay Topic 3

Explore how the book depicts the sanctity of life through Yuki's varied experiences and beliefs.

Part 1) How does Yuki demonstrate respect for each creature's right to live?

Part 2) How does she feel about death without cause? Explore scenes in which Yuki speaks about her convictions.

Part 3) From where does Yuki's preoccupation with the sanctity of life likely stem? Why?

Part 4) How does Yuki's respect for life manifest as the years pass?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,074 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample