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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. According to Kino's father, death is the great____________________.

2. Which of the following is NOT a reason that Kino's father thinks Japanese people are fortunate?

3. How does Kino feel after Jiya and Setsu move to the beach?

4. Jiya wakes only to _____________ and then goes back to sleep.

5. What does Kino do while Jiya is sleeping?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Kino's father respond to Kino when he states that the Japanese people are unlucky to live in the middle of so much danger?

2. How do the villagers treat the beach for many years after the big wave?

3. Why does Kino think that it would be impossible for Jiya to turn down the Old Gentleman's offer?

4. Describe how Jiya feels happiness when he returns to be part of Kino's family.

5. Why is Jiya so restless after seeing the men building the house on the beach and what does Kino's family know about what Jiya will do?

6. How has Jiya conducted himself in the years since the deaths of his family members?

7. What is it about the geography of where he lives that makes Kino think he and his family are unfortunate?

8. How does Jiya prepare his house so that he and Setsu can live there and not be afraid of another big wave coming?

9. What is Jiya's rationale for why the Old Gentleman's castle is no safer than a house on the beach?

10. What does Jiya tell the Old Gentleman about why the villagers are brave?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the overall setting for the book. Why does Buck use the setting she does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

Essay Topic 2

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of man vs. nature. Identify at least two situation which embody the man vs.nature theme.

Essay Topic 3

Explain what Kino's father means when he says that life is stronger than death? In what ways is this phrase exhibited in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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