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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. How do Kenzo and Matsu make amends?

2. Who does Stephen travel to Kobe with?

3. What does Sachi tell Stephen when she learns that Matsu was unaware of this visit?

4. How does Stephen get to Kobe?

5. What is a shime-nawa?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Stephen think about the impact of the war?

2. What agreement do Stephen's parents seem to come to after his father's visit?

3. How does Stephen describe Matsu's garden?

4. Describe Yamaguchi.

5. What does Stephen's father reveal about Matsu's history?

6. What implications are given that Matsu is becoming fond of Stephen?

7. Describe the relationship between Stephen and his father in the beginning of the book.

8. How does the visit to Sachi impact the relationship between Stephen and Matsu?

9. Why does Stephen go to see Sachi after her argument with Kenzo?

10. How does the storm impact Stephen's relationship with Sachi and Matsu?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Celebrations play a role in the telling of this story.

1) Choose one celebration and explain why it made a difference to Stephen's growth, perceptions, or daily life.

2) Describe how a different celebration reminds you of a western celebration or one you have participated in. Explain how your or a character in the story found meaning in the celebration mentioned.

3) Write a narrative of a celebration from the point of view of a character who attended it.

Essay Topic 2

When Stephen overhears Kenzo's attack on Sachi, he remains silent. Should he have spoken up and defended her? Argue this point from both the opinion that he should have spoken up and from the perspective that he was wise to remain silent. Compare the way Stephen handles this situation with the way he handles another event in the story.

Essay Topic 3

Although Stephen has never met Tomoko, her presence is strongly felt. This is also true of Michiko. Compare and contrast the two characters and analyze their contribution to the story line.

(see the answer keys)

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