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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. Where is the mistress seated at the party at Hara Kei's house?
(a) Next to Joncour.
(b) Next to Hara Kei.
(c) Alone.
(d) Next to her maid.

2. When Joncour asks Baldabiou where Japan is, what does Baldabiou say?
(a) "Right to the end of the world."
(b) "Where it smells like spices."
(c) "Half-way around the world."
(d) "Where danger lives."

3. What did Herve Joncour's father want him to do for a living?
(a) Be a baker.
(b) Be a silk manufacturer.
(c) Be mayor.
(d) Have a career in the army.

4. What business is downstairs that Madame Blanche also owns?
(a) A draper's shop.
(b) A ticketing office for ships.
(c) A cigar shop.
(d) A silk shop.

5. To whom did Baldabiou dedicate the building next to the silk factory?
(a) Helene.
(b) Saint Agnes.
(c) Saint Cecilia.
(d) The Holy Mother Mary.

Short Answer Questions

1. After Hara Kei's mistress dries off Joncour after his bath, what does she put in his hand?

2. What does the mistress do before she leaves Joncour with his present?

3. In Chapter 8, what does Baldabiou drink with Joncour?

4. Where did Baldabiou first see Joncour?

5. Where does Joncour live?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Baldabiou convince the Mayor to establish factories that produce silk? How does money play into the decision for Baldabiou? How does money affect the decision of the Mayor?

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

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

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

5. 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?

6. On his second trip to Japan, Joncour sits at the lake with Hara Kei and they are described as "Holding their peace." What do you think the author means by this? Where else have you heard this expression? Do you think there is a connection between a reference to a wedding and a mistress?

7. How does the author describe the character of the Mayor? How is the telling of his story told in a circular fashion?

8. Describe how silk eggs hatch and what happens to them.

9. Why does the young girl accompanying Hara Kei not have an Asian slant to her eyes? Does this give the reader a clue to her past? What?

10. It is against the law to sell silk eggs in Japan. Why is it reasonable in the eyes of the silk manufacturers to break a law in Japan? Are they concerned for the welfare of Joncour? Why? Why not?

(see the answer keys)

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