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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. During what season did Fusako leave her husband?

2. What color raincoat does Eiko wear in "A Blaze of Clouds"?

3. What is the month at the beginning of Chapter 1?

4. How many days does Shingo believe it will take to bring Fusako back?

5. Where is Yasuko's old family house located?

Short Essay Questions

1. With whom did Shingo go dancing one night?

2. In Chapter 6, what does Shingo see at an inn after he makes arrangements for guests of his firm to visit?

3. What does Mrs. Ikeda think would help get Shuichi to leave his mistress?

4. What does the house look like where Shuichi's mistress lives?

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

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

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

8. Why does Kikuko go to the University Hospital?

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

10. How does Shingo attempt to make his wife stop snoring?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Frequently when Shingo is attending business dinners, geisha are part of the evening's entertainment. Discuss geisha and their role in the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss how the phrase "calmly swam through while everyone else was going under" applied to Shingo and his friends.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Yasuko and the relationship she had with her family--her parents and sister.

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