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

Short Answer Questions

1. Regarding his meeting with Kabuo, Susan Marie testifies that her husband

2. Jury instructions from the trial judge are intended to

3. Kabuo Miyamoto wants to be a fisherman

4. Before he set out to fish, Kabuo put his hand on the water and

5. Kabuo Miyamoto's demeanor as he looks out at the snow makes the jurors think that

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the author refer more than once to the smell of snow?

2. What is peculiar about islanders and their relationships?

3. Why does Moran suspect the blow to Carl Heine's head was from a kendo stick?

4. Explain how Carl's blood ended up on the handle of Kabuo's fishing gaff.

5. What does Guterson mean when he says that, "...the prosecutor, knew well the value of a Susan Marie Heine."

6. Nels Gudmundsson makes a fascinating statement about Hooks' tactics with regard to racism. Discuss this.

7. Does Sergeant Maples have any personal motives for seeming to incriminate Kabuo in his testimony?

8. What is the glimmer of hope that comes from Susan Marie's testimony?

9. Why does Ishmael not take his information from the coast guard directly to Judge Fielding as he figures he father would have done?

10. What scenario has prosecutor, Alvin Hooks, cooked up to try to bolster his case against Kabuo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Carl Heine's accident is one that the Coast Guard missed entirely. Research historical Coast Guard rescues, and summarize their stories. What is the biggest challenge for the Coast Guard, and how have they dealt with obstacles that confront them? Wrap up your essay with a critical review of the coast guard, and determine whether they are an important branch of the military or whether they are just a lookout crew.

Essay Topic 2

Research and write an in-depth essay about the Japanese internment camps in the US during World War II. If possible, find someone to interview who has some childhood memories of the experience and interview him or her. Has the US, in your opinion, reconsidered its decision to place people in camps when their native country is at war with us? Has it reconsidered the decisions that were made back then? Is there a general consensus about the advisability of such a program? If possible, include some photos.

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.

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