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. When Joncour and the boy catch up to the procession of Hara Kei, what travels behind Hara Kei?
(a) A litter with brightly-colored fabrics.
(b) A colored carriage.
(c) Horses.
(d) A bed.

2. What does the Frenchman, Chardonnet, do?
(a) Develops a silkworm egg as good as Japan.
(b) Works with microscopes.
(c) Patents artificial silk.
(d) Finds the silkworm disease.

3. What is inside the envelope that Joncour receives after his last trip to Japan?
(a) The note from the mistress.
(b) A letter written in Japanese.
(c) A letter from Baldabiou.
(d) A letter from Hara Kei.

4. In his later years, what does Joncour never do?
(a) He lives in a villa at the beach on the Riviera.
(b) He travels to Japan many times trying to find the mistress.
(c) He moves to China.
(d) He never travels and never leaves his house.

5. What does Joncour notice about the other passengers on the train as he travels home from his fourth trip to Japan?
(a) The passengers are older.
(b) The passengers are Japanese.
(c) The passengers are sweating.
(d) The passengers look strange to him.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Hara Kei say to Joncour about the fate of the boy who led Joncour to Hara Kei's procession?

2. Who builds Joncour's park?

3. The morning after Joncour catches up with Hara Kei's procession, what does he find?

4. Who wrote the letters to Joncour?

5. When Joncour tells Baldabiou about the mistress, what does he say?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Joncour finally tells Baldabiou about the girl in Japan he says, "To die of nostalgia for something you will never live," what does he mean?

2. Why does Joncour take Baldabiou to the house of Jean Berbeck that he buys? What is he looking for? Why does he think that Baldabiou will understand?

3. Why does the author describe the train trip so vividly returning from Japan on the fourth trip? What is the significance of the heat that Joncour sees on the fields and with the other passengers? What is he watching happening?

4. Helene runs after Baldabiou at the train station and they embrace and she cries. What does this tell the reader about their relationship? Do you think something happened?

5. For the fourth trip to Japan, who makes the decision to go? Why is this startling? Why does Baldabiou lie to everyone except Helene about the trip?

6. For the fourth trip to Japan, Baldabiou is unsure whether or not to send Joncour. What are his misgivings? When discussing it with Joncour, who is he trying to convince?

7. What does Joncour know about the Englishman they meet at the Riviera at the baron's birthday party? What is he wearing? Why is he upset when he looks at his wife and the Englishman?

8. Why do you think Madame Blanche wants to forget about her native language? Why does she make Joncour promise to never return to her for a translation?

9. Why does Helene pretend not to notice the letters when they are clearly in plain sight?

10. Why does Joncour fire his gun on the way out of town and startle the birds? What is he saying, and to whom? Who will get his message?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,582 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample