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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. Who is the person who meets Stephen at the train station in Tarumi?

2. What is Matsu's New Year's gift to Stephen?

3. Why does Stephen originally buy the journal?

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

5. What best describes Matsu's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Yamaguchi.

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

3. How does Stephen feel about making friends with people once he is settled in the beach house?

4. What conflicting accounts of the war does Stephen hear?

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

6. Describe a daruma doll.

7. How does Stephen describe Matsu's garden?

8. What does Stephen struggle with at the Shinto shrine and why?

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

10. Why is the painting of the garden of importance to Stephen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Sachi's kare sansui is, by definition, a dry garden. Although she has chosen to include the blue-purple flower, the garden is mainly made up of rocks that represent the ripples of water. Stephen calls it an illusion. It could also be called a dead garden.

1) Why do you think Sachi chose this type of a garden rather than one filled with life?

2) What does the later inclusions of the blue-purple flower represent?

3) Why does Sachi rearrange the stones frequently?

Essay Topic 3

For each of the gifts listed below, explain who it was to and from, what the reason for the gift was and how it affected the giver or receiver.

1) Daruma doll

2) Yoken

3) Paint brushes

4) Lucky stones

5) Another of your choice

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 805 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample