View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What emotions does Hideki feel after Yuki leaves for Nagasaki?

2. According to Yuki in Chapter 12, what will Hanae do with the things Yuki leaves behind?

3. How much longer does Yuki have until she leaves for Nagasaki?

4. What emotion does Masa always recognize in Yuki's face in Chapter 14?

5. Why did Shizuko keep all of Yuki's childhood items stored in boxes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write the following essay from the first person point of view of Yuki.

• Why is honesty so important to you?

• Have you ever regretted being honest? If so, why? Have you ever regretted being dishonest? If so, why?

• Of the adults in your life, who is the most honest? Who is the least honest?

• If those around you were as honest as you, how would this impact your relationships?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss how the book benefits from the author's choice to include flashbacks within many of the chapters.

Part 1) Why are the flashbacks important in defining characters? What are some examples when a flashback has brought new and interesting facts about a character to light?

Part 2) When considering the novel's overall theme of remembrance, why are flashbacks an appropriate vehicle for the story?

Part 3) What are the disadvantages to including flashbacks? What are the merits?

Essay Topic 3

Even though the novel is set primarily in the early 1970s, is its commentary on women and society is still relevant today? Why or why not? How would the novel's themes differ if the story were set in the United States during the same time period?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 346 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample