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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What year is it when the novel begins?
(a) 1910.
(b) 1861.
(c) 1761.
(d) 1801.

2. What does the piano player say after the end of each song?
(a) "Pennies from heaven."
(b) "I shall die."
(c) "Bonjour."
(d) "Voila."

3. When Joncour asks the Englishman about the woman with Hara Kei, what does he say?
(a) "White women do not exist in Japan."
(b) "Are you sure she is English?"
(c) "I've seen her too."
(d) "I wouldn't ask if I were you."

4. How does Joncour arrive in Hara Kei's village on his third trip?
(a) A carriage.
(b) On foot, so the news of his arrival will precede him.
(c) On a donkey.
(d) Riding horseback.

5. Where is the party that Hara Kei holds and invites Joncour to on his third trip?
(a) In the village.
(b) At Hara Kei's house.
(c) By the lake.
(d) On the beach.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is remarkable about the young girl with Hara Kei?

2. When Hara Kei was a child, his father told him to shoot an arrow into the air. What was Hara Hei supposed to do after that?

3. What color flowers does Madame Blanche wear?

4. What is happening in America at the beginning of the novel?

5. To whom did Baldabiou dedicate the building next to the silk factory?

Short Essay Questions

1. Do you think Joncour's feminine attributes played into his father's decision that Joncour should pursue a life in the military? What does this say about the character of Joncour's father? What does this say about Joncour?

2. Why does Joncour arrive in Hara Kei's village on foot? What message is he sending to the mistress?

3. After his travels to Africa, how does Joncour describe his trip when someone asks? Why does he not give a better description?

4. What is the symbolism of the exotic birds kept caged at the house of Hara Kei? What does this tell Joncour? What else does Joncour see at Hara Kei's house?

5. Why does the mistress bring an Asian girl for Joncour? What is this a symbol of for both of them?

6. How does Joncour observe life? Why is this significant?

7. What is Madame Blanche's calling card? What does she give the men she sleeps with?

8. Describe the party at Hara Kei's house. Who is there? Are these important people? Why? Why not?

9. When Hara Kei tells Joncour that the mistress "doesn't speak your language", is he referring to more that French? What is he trying to tell Joncour?

10. Is Joncour really disinterested in what is happening in Japan as the novel progresses? Is he following the news? Does he care if he ever gets back? What is holding his interest in his leisure time?

(see the answer keys)

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