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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. Where did the president of a boat and yacht company go with his wife before they disappeared?

2. What type of flowers now grow in front of the house that had sunflowers last year?

3. In Chapter 13, what color flowers grow in front of the house that had sunflowers growing last year?

4. How did Viscount Takagi die?

5. What mountain does Shingo see as the train passes Ofuna?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Shingo dealing with the yatsude?

2. Why does Shingo suspect that his friend who had cancer died from suicide?

3. Why does Shingo take his shoe off his right foot on the train?

4. How does Shingo describe a foreigner who is on the train when it is stopped in Chapter 15?

5. How does Shingo describe a young girl who wants a seat saved on a train?

6. What does Kikuko explain about the ringing of the bell for the anniversary celebration?

7. How did Americans get some ancient lotus seeds to sprout?

8. What presents does Kikuko bring back from Tokyo?

9. How do Shingo and Kikuko describe the appearance of black lilies?

10. What did Shuichi do when he learned that Kinu was pregnant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss round and flat characters in the "The Sound of the Mountain".

Essay Topic 2

The author uses descriptions of nature to illustrate or emphasize Shingo's state of mind. Discuss how descriptions of nature are used to illustrate or emphasize Shingo's state of mind.

Essay Topic 3

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

(see the answer keys)

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