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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. What city do Kaname and Misako live in?

2. What does Misako avoid as she helps Kaname dress for the show?

3. Who is Aso?

4. Where does Takanatsu offer to take Hiroshi for a few days?

5. How does Misako describe herself when she is with Aso?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Kaname suspect Misako would rather do instead of attending the puppet theater?

2. Who is O-hisa? What does Misako think of O-hisa?

3. In Chapter 3, what is Kaname moved by in the puppet show? What does he think the show perfectly conveys?

4. In Chapter 5, what does Kaname realize he has been looking for during his entire marriage?

5. What does Takanatsu think of Misako's plan to divorce Kaname and marry Aso?

6. What sort of woman does Kaname tell Takanatsu he is looking for? What does Takanatsu joke about Kaname's post-divorce life?

7. What does Takanatsu encourage Kaname to do in Chapter 4?

8. Why is Kaname conflicted about going to the puppet theater with his father-in-law?

9. What does Misako note about Peony's behavior when Peony and Kaname meet her at the train station? How does this relate to Kaname?

10. What does Kaname think about on the train ride to the puppet theater?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the relationship between Kaname and Misako. Why are they considering divorce? How do they treat each other? What problems are they struggling with in their marriage?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the motif of dolls in the novel "Some Prefer Nettles." What are some examples of dolls in the novel? What comparison does Kaname make between the dolls and his real life?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of traditional versus modernity in the novel "Some Prefer Nettles." What are some examples of the traditional way or life in the novel? What are some examples of the modern way of life? What does Kaname think of traditional living and modern living?

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