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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 does Takanatsu think Kaname should tell Hiroshi about his parents' marriage?

2. Who is Takanatsu?

3. What style does the music and theater of Osaka follow?

4. How is Misako and Kaname's relationship affected when Takanatsu is around?

5. What is the name of the dog Takanatsu brings for Hiroshi?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Kaname think about the female puppet in the show? Who does the puppet remind him of and why?

2. In Chapter 5, what personality trait do Kaname and Takanatsu acknowledge that Kaname and Misako share?

3. What does Takanatsu let Misako look at in his suitcase? What jokes does Takanatsu make to Misako, which she reacts to in seriousness?

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

5. What is at risk for Misako when she and Kaname divorce?

6. Why does Misako think communication is improved with Kaname when Takanatsu mediates?

7. What does Takanatsu advise Hiroshi about getting his two dogs to be friends?

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

9. Why does Kaname wish Misako was a loose woman?

10. How does Misako feel at the beginning of Chapter 6?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of marriage in the novel "Some Prefer Nettles." What problems are Kaname and Misako dealing with in their marriage? What does Kaname think of marriage in general? What does Misako think of marriage in general?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and interpret Kaname's epiphany. What does he finally come to realize? What events or moments cause him to reach this realization? How might his epiphany change his life?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of East versus West in the novel "Some Prefer Nettles." What are some examples of Western influences in the novel? What does Kaname think of the Western influences? Which characters symbolize the East and which characters symbolize the West?

(see the answer keys)

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