View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who came to Japan in 1853?
(a) The Manchurians.
(b) President Lincoln.
(c) A delagation from India.
(d) Commodore Matthew C. Perry.

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

3. What kind of living does Joncour make with the silk trade?
(a) He is the wealthiest man in town.
(b) A good living.
(c) He does not make very much money.
(d) He is poor by city standards.

4. What is happening in America at the beginning of the novel?
(a) The pilgrims are landing at Plymouth.
(b) George Washington is President.
(c) Aircraft is being built.
(d) The Civil War.

5. What does the mistress do before she leaves Joncour with his present?
(a) She tells him that she loves him.
(b) She tells him to leave and never return.
(c) She kisses his hand and disappears into the night.
(d) She asks if she can go with him.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who lives across the street from Joncour?

2. What month do silk eggs hatch?

3. With whom does Joncour negotiate the sale of silk eggs the first time?

4. When Baldabiou returned to the mayor with the money made from the factories, what did he call the mayor?

5. How much money does Joncour have for his trip to Japan?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened when Jean Berbeck decided not to speak anymore? Why is this significant information in getting to know the character of Joncour?

2. When Baldabiou first broaches the idea of going to Japan for silk eggs, why do the local silk manufacturers not know anything about Japan?

3. Why does Madame Blanche tell Joncour that the girl will not die without him? Is she trying to help him? What does she know that he does not?

4. When Joncour meets the Englishman in Japan who is selling guns, he asks about the girl. What is the Englishman's reply? Do you think the Englishman has seen the girl? Do you think he knows more than he is saying? What?

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

6. After Joncour is given the note, he stops for a moment on his way out of town when leaving for home. Why does he stop? What is he doing? What is he thinking? What message is he trying to convey?

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

8. How is Helene described? What is her most important attribute?

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

10. What animal does Baldabiou ask about upon Joncour's return from his first trip abroad? What does he do later to pay tribute to these animals? What are these animals a symbol for?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,111 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample