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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 Kino do while Jiya is sleeping?

2. What has the Old Gentleman spent his whole life trying to do?

3. What is Jiya's demeanor as he surveys the Old Gentleman's castle?

4. What does the Old Gentleman tell the men building the house before he leaves?

5. Jiya had always known he had to ___________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Kino's father says that Jiya will be happy again only when he is able to do what?

2. 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?

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

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

5. What is Kino's father's position on why Japanese people don't fear death?

6. What explanation do the two men give when Kino asks what they will do if the big wave comes back?

7. How does Kino show his selflessness regarding Jiya's decision and why does Jiya refuse to stay at the Old Gentleman's castle?

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

9. Describe how Jiya spends the first days after the deaths of his family members.

10. What requirement does Kino's father make of Jiya before he makes his decision about living with the Old Gentleman and what is Kino charged with doing regarding Jiya's decision?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of the Old Gentleman. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him--if anything--at this point in his life?

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Kino. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him--if anything--at this point in his life?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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This section contains 997 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample