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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happened to much of Kazu and his family's things right around Koichi's birth?
(a) They were repossessed.
(b) Someone robbed them.
(c) They sold most of their things to neighbors.
(d) Everything got washed away in a tsunami.

2. What does the homeless woman tell the homeless man about Shige while Kazu watches them?
(a) He died.
(b) He took off without a word.
(c) He got a job.
(d) He got arrested.

3. Who did Kazu see at the Haramachi train station on August 5, 1947?
(a) Emperor Hirohito.
(b) His wife for the first time.
(c) Shige.
(d) His father.

4. Why did the midwife say the birth of their son Koichi was a blessing?
(a) Because it was the Emperor's birthday.
(b) Because having a baby on a rainy day was considered good luck.
(c) Because having a boy first was considered good luck.
(d) Because he was born the same day as the prince.

5. What word is used to describe how Kazu felt about how he lived his life after his son Koichi died?
(a) Nostalgic.
(b) Overjoyed.
(c) Dissatisfied.
(d) Distraught.

6. Why did Kazu stay outside of Ueno Station when he was alive?
(a) He sold watches and jewelry outside the station.
(b) He was homeless and that is where many homeless people lived.
(c) He worked as a ticketer at the station.
(d) He was a police officer assigned to patrol the area.

7. What was the Buddhist name given to Koichi at his funeral?
(a) Shaku Banko.
(b) Shaku Junko.
(c) Shaku Bodhi.
(d) Shaku Karma.

8. What was Kazu distraught when his wife needed a midwife while she was in labor with their son?
(a) He hated to see her in so much pain.
(b) He did not believe in midwives.
(c) They could not afford one.
(d) There were no midwives in the area.

9. What is the name of the park Kazu haunts and used to live in when he was alive?
(a) Ueno Arboretum.
(b) Tokyo Station Public Park.
(c) Tokyo Rose Garden.
(d) Ueno Imperial Gift Park.

10. How much money does Kazu send him to his family when he first moves to Tokyo?
(a) 1000 yen a month.
(b) 20,000 yen a month.
(c) 20 yen a month.
(d) 250,000 yen a month.

11. Why are homeless people often evicted from the park where they live?
(a) They are evicted whenever the imperial family comes to visit a local museum.
(b) They are evicted because it is illegal to be homeless in Tokyo.
(c) They are evicted because they often cause problems in the park.
(d) They are evicted because the locals complain about their presence.

12. According to Kazu's father, how long had there ancestors been in Soma?
(a) 500 years.
(b) 100 years.
(c) 50 years.
(d) 200 years.

13. What did Osamu say about Koichi at the funeral that Kazu was not aware of?
(a) Koichi always talked about his father.
(b) He and Koichi were best friends.
(c) He and Koichi did not always get along.
(d) Koichi was engaged.

14. What did the priest tell Setsuko people should do when someone dies rather than mourning them?
(a) They should thank them for connecting them to the Buddha.
(b) They should try to forget them.
(c) They should think of the good times they had together.
(d) They should pretend they are still alive.

15. What is Kazu's wife's name?
(a) Koichi.
(b) Mari.
(c) Setsuko.
(d) Yoko.

Short Answer Questions

1. How often did Kazu visit his children when they were young?

2. What is one thing Pure Land followers did that angered the natives in Soma?

3. What do Pure Land followers believe happens to their dead?

4. How did Kazu and Setsuko know each other prior to getting married?

5. What news did Kazu receive about his son just days before his death?

(see the answer keys)

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