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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 does Joncour drop by the dress as he leaves the lake?
(a) A letter.
(b) Money.
(c) A glove.
(d) A scarf.

2. What does Hara Kei take Joncour to the top of the hill to see?
(a) The view.
(b) The house.
(c) The bluebirds.
(d) The harbor.

3. What novel is Flaubert writing at the time in the novel?
(a) The Rest Shall Die.
(b) Salammbo.
(c) God Given Talent.
(d) Africa.

4. What present does the mistress have for Joncour after the party at Hara Kei's house?
(a) Hot towels.
(b) Mulberry leaves.
(c) A young Asian girl.
(d) Tea.

5. When Baldabiou assembles all of Lavelledieu's silk manufacturers, what do they think of Japan?
(a) They have read about Japan.
(b) They know Japan to be dangerous.
(c) They have heard of the Japanese silk.
(d) They have never heard of Japan.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many years ago did Baldabiou come to town?

2. What month do silk eggs hatch?

3. Where does Madame Blanche live?

4. Once Europe has been exhausted of silk eggs, where does Joncour go for eggs first?

5. What kind of living does Joncour make with the silk trade?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. Why are the silkworms of Japan not affected by disease? What is their history of trade?

3. When the silkworm disease begins to spread in the early 1860s, Baldabiou observes that "nearly" all of the eggs are affected. What is he thinking? Where is he thinking of buying eggs?

4. 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?

5. 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?

6. 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?

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

8. When Joncour seeks out someone who can translate the note for him, Baldabiou informs him of Madame Blanche, but tells him not to ask her personal questions. Why do you think Baldabiou gives Joncour this suggestion?

9. When Hara Kei asks Joncour who he is, what does he tell him? Why does he give so much detail? Is it necessary to tell the whole truth? Why does Joncour do this?

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

(see the answer keys)

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