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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What best describes Kenzo and Matsu in their youth?
(a) Kenzo was popular and Matsu was shy.
(b) Kenzo was ill and Matsu was helpful.
(c) Kenzo was brave and Matsu was neat.
(d) Kenzo was shy and Matsu was industrious.

2. What is Stephen's interpretation of his parents' marriage at the end of the December journal entries?
(a) That it is no more than a business arrangement.
(b) That it is healing.
(c) That it is over.
(d) That it is at a painful point in a growth process.

3. What does Matsu say Kenzo does?
(a) Assists villagers with disputes.
(b) Gets food to the hungry.
(c) Gets hard to find items.
(d) Delivers important supplies.

4. Who does Sachi say saved her from being trampled at a celebration many years earlier?
(a) Kenzo.
(b) Her father.
(c) Matsu.
(d) An unidentified soldier.

5. Why does Sachi say Tomoko contracted leprosy?
(a) The girls were vain.
(b) The girls spent too much time indoors.
(c) Their family was poor.
(d) She ate poorly.

6. What does Matsu reveal about his younger sister while he is in Yamaguchi with Stephen?
(a) She was taken by leprosy.
(b) She died of tuberculosis.
(c) She was a healer.
(d) She died giving birth to a son.

7. Who does Stephen travel to Kobe with?
(a) Penelope.
(b) His father.
(c) Ching.
(d) Henry.

8. What does Stephen give Sachi in this second visit?
(a) A painting of her house.
(b) A painting of the garden.
(c) A portrait of herself.
(d) A drawing of the beach.

9. Who is the person who meets Stephen at the train station in Tarumi?
(a) Henry.
(b) Pie.
(c) King.
(d) Matsu.

10. Who says, "A Japanese woman would never do such a thing," and to whom is that person referring?
(a) Kenzo referring to Stephen's mother.
(b) Stephen referring to Yoshiko.
(c) Stephen referring to his mother.
(d) Kenzo referring to Yoshiko.

11. What is Setsbun?
(a) The name of the shrine they visit in Tama.
(b) The first rites of spring.
(c) A canvas for a special Japanese painting.
(d) A totem to keep away demons, cold, and pestilence.

12. What does Stephen's father promise to send him?
(a) A Letter.
(b) Paints.
(c) Newspapers.
(d) Canvases.

13. Where does Stephen say the young men of the village are when he visits for Kenzo's burial?
(a) Dead from leprosy.
(b) Moved to other cities.
(c) Celebrating at the shrine.
(d) Fighting against China.

14. What does Stephen decide to paint?
(a) Sachi without her sores.
(b) His family.
(c) Matsu's garden.
(d) Keiko at the beach.

15. When does Stephen's father leave Tamuri after his second visit to see Stephen?
(a) While Stephen and Matsu leave for Tama.
(b) During dinner.
(c) In the middle of their argument.
(d) Early in the morning before Stephen is awake.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Stephen learn during his father's second visit, which occurs in December of 1937?

2. What explanation is given for the names of the children in Stephen's family?

3. Why doesn't Stephen ask Matsu to go along on his visit to Sachi?

4. Why does Stephen have memories of Matsu from childhood?

5. What does Stephen expect to be his only solace in Tarumi?

(see the answer keys)

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