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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why was Yukio still struggling financially even after he started getting a salary from the pottery studio?
(a) He owed a debt for his room and board from his first years in Kyoto.
(b) He used most of his salary to rent an apartment.
(c) He was sending most of his money home to help pay for Kyoko's education.
(d) He still had to pay for his pottery lessons with Yamagishi.

2. When "Husband and Wife" opens, about how long has it been since the events of "Best Friend" took place?
(a) 2 months.
(b) 1 year.
(c) 2 years.
(d) 1 month.

3. When Kurata visits the café to clarify the time-travel rules, what question does he ask Kazu that she does not know the answer to?
(a) Whether people who become ghosts are stuck in the time they traveled to.
(b) Why time-travelers cannot see the other customers during time travel.
(c) Whether the coffee cools at the same rate for everyone.
(d) What time the ghost leaves her seat each day.

4. How does Miki address Kazu when she asks Kazu about changing her name if she gets married?
(a) Mademoiselle.
(b) Mistress.
(c) Teacher.
(d) Little Sister.

5. What significant event on the previous day is part of the reason for the timing of Yukio's visit to the café?
(a) He finished filing for bankruptcy.
(b) He found out that Kyoko believes he is angry at her.
(c) He received news that his creditors are calling in his loan.
(d) He was dismissed from his apprenticeship.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is Miki writing wishes at the beginning of the story?

2. What characteristic of the café's Christmas tree is stressed in the narrator's description of it?

3. What happens immediately after Yukio leaves the café to make a phone call?

4. What is unusual about Kurata's time-travel plans?

5. What is Fumiko's job?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened when Kimiko tried to intervene in the mugging incident?

2. What comparison does Yukio make between his own situation and that of a character in Maeterlinck's The Blue Bird?

3. What lies does Yukio tell his mother about taking care of himself, and why does he tell these lies?

4. How does Yaeko Hirai's story inspire Kiyoshi to make a change in the way he has been living his life?

5. What is so tricky about Kurata's time-travel plans, and how has he tried to plan ahead to overcome this difficulty?

6. When Kimiko enters the café, whom does Kiyoshi pretend to be, and why?

7. When Yukio is discouraged about his future, what keeps him working toward becoming a potter?

8. What is Fumiko's relationship to the café?

9. When Miki writes her wish that Nagare would become happy, how does Nagare react?

10. What complication almost prevents Kiyoshi from traveling back in time, and how does Nagare solve the problem?

(see the answer keys)

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