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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How old was the girl who had an abortion in Shingo's dream?
(a) 12 or 13.
(b) 14 or 15.
(c) 16.
(d) 17.

2. What type of butterflies does Shingo see in his garden?
(a) Monarchs.
(b) Fritillary.
(c) Blue triangle.
(d) Swallowtails.

3. What actor plays Benkei in the Kabuki play?
(a) Toma.
(b) Seizo.
(c) Koshiro.
(d) Kenji.

4. How old is Yasuko?
(a) 63.
(b) 62.
(c) 59.
(d) 61.

5. During dinner in Chapter 3, how many times do candles blow out?
(a) 5.
(b) 1-2.
(c) 2.
(d) 3-4.

Short Answer Questions

1. How old was Tanizaki when the man she loved died in the war?

2. In Chapter 5, what flowers are on Kikuko's obi and cloak?

3. Where does Kikuko have a small scar?

4. What type of a dwarf tree used to belong to Yasuko's sister?

5. In Section 2 of "A Blaze of Clouds," what does Yasuko reach for every time the house shakes?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Shingo come to hire Eiko?

2. Why doesn't Shuichi think Kikuko is worried about the weather in Chapter 3?

3. What music is Kikuko playing at the beginning of Chapter 3?

4. Describe the photograph of Toriyama that was at his funeral.

5. In "Chestnuts," what birds does Shingo see?

6. Why does Shingo try to get Kikuko to lie down in Section 2 of Chapter 7?

7. What wakes Shingo at the beginning of Chapter 8?

8. Why would it be difficult for Fusako and Aihara to flee if the typhoon should get really bad?

9. Why does Kikuko go to the University Hospital?

10. How did Toriyama's wife torture him when she was going through the change of life?

(see the answer keys)

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