View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Hatsue visits the hollow cedar throughout her childhood to

2. When a new wave of amtracs came on the beach, Ishmael was

3. Ishmael's father, as the local newspaper owner,

4. When Ishmael complains about the Japanese,

5. The significance of the four pieces of mooring line is

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the situation between Hatsue and Ishmael after the Pearl Harbor attack.

2. Why would reporters from out of town be attending Miyamoto's trial?

3. What was the convincing factor in Sheriff Moran's decision to get a search warrant for Kabuo's boat?

4. In most of the anecdotes of snow-related catastrophes on the island, Guterson uses the opportunity to remind us of the folksy nature of this small-town community. Identify some of those instances.

5. What is the agreement made between Zenhichi Miyamoto and Carl Heine, Sr.?

6. We learn that Carl Heine is a precise, organized and capable man. Can you think of a reason that the author is giving us such a detailed description of a deceased person?

7. Why does Hatsue ignore Ishmael at school?

8. What kind of lawyer is Nels Gudmundsson?

9. Explain the hysteria on San Piedro Island when the news of the Pearl Harbor attack is announced.

10. Describe Amity Harbor. Is it an upscale town? Does it seem inviting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Japanese diet has always been considered sparse and healthy. Research today's typical diet for the typical Japanese family, both in the US and Japan. Do they have a higher or lower mortality rate? Has their diet changed considerably in the past decades? What are the predominant health problems among Japanese? Americans? Compare and contrast.

Essay Topic 2

Find another form of Japanese stick fighting besides Kendo, and write a lesson plan for someone who wants to learn it. Provide a bit of background and history, as well as some graphics that demonstrate the moves and the weapon.

Essay Topic 3

At one point in this story, Ishmael feels a certain strange fondness for his memories of the very worst moments of his life, as well as for the sense of chaos around him. This phenomenon has surfaced from other soldiers who have been at the front lines of battle. At the library, look find the book entitled "The World Within War" by Gerald Linderman. In Chapter 6, Linderman describes what may seem barbaric to some, but what may be familiar to some shell-shocked soldiers -- a certain delight in destruction. Read this chapter and compare with Guterman's description of Ishmael Chambers in Chapter 30 of "Snow Falling on Cedars." Teach your readers about this rather astonishing concept.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,027 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample