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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Kazu give to the cabaret hostess the last night he saw her?
(a) Money.
(b) White roses.
(c) A box of chocolates.
(d) Perfume.

2. What does Kazu say he never did regarding the cabaret hostess?
(a) He never told her he was married.
(b) He never told her his real name.
(c) He never forgave himself for letting her go.
(d) He never paid for a date.

3. Why did Kazu not want Shige to tell him what he had done to hurt his family?
(a) Kazu felt he would then have to share his story with Shige.
(b) Kazu was afraid he might have to turn Shige in to the police.
(c) Kazu did not care about Shige.
(d) Kazu feared if Shige confessed a crime he will have to kill Kazu.

4. What had Setsuko told Kazu not long before her death?
(a) She felt sick and should see a doctor.
(b) She did not want to die before he did.
(c) She felt she had lived a full life and it was time to move on.
(d) She knew she would die while the cicadas were singing.

5. On days when the homeless were forced to evacuate the park, what does Kazu say those with enough money might do?
(a) Take a cab to a park in a different city.
(b) Take a train to visit family.
(c) Spend the day in a sauna.
(d) Buy some new clothes.

6. What did Kazu decide to do at the age of 60?
(a) Leave his wife.
(b) Stop working away from home.
(c) Open a cabaret.
(d) Go to school.

7. Kazu sees a man emerge from a cardboard hut near Shinobazu Pond with something that looks like what, which belonged to Shige?
(a) His calendar.
(b) His jacket.
(c) His books.
(d) Emile, his cat.

8. What did Kazu think was going to happen to him after he died?
(a) He would be reborn.
(b) He would haunt his living family members.
(c) Nothing.
(d) He would be reunited with dead family members.

9. Kazu walked the earth around Shino-bazu Pond the last time he had to evacuate Ueno Park and recalled what of the Pond's history?
(a) It was a burial ground for unknown soldiers.
(b) It was where his ancestors first arrived.
(c) It was once a horse-racing track.
(d) It was the location of the former Imperial Palace.

10. Kazu observes two women at the Ueno Art Museum barely looking at the pictures and instead discussing what?
(a) One woman's situation with her soon-to-be ex-husband.
(b) One woman's upcoming wedding.
(c) One woman's pregnancy.
(d) One woman's trouble finding a good job.

11. What do the two businessmen Kazu observes walking toward the Shimizu Kannon Temple discuss on their walk?
(a) Work.
(b) Their jobs.
(c) Food.
(d) The temple.

12. What was the first sign something is unusual the morning Kazu woke up after the 49th day mourning ceremony?
(a) The house was empty.
(b) He did not hear Setsuko talking on the phone.
(c) It was still dark when he woke.
(d) He did not smell Setsuko's miso cooking.

13. What does Kazu say the cabaret hostesses' perfume smelled like when they danced?
(a) Lavender.
(b) White rose.
(c) His wife's perfume.
(d) Baby powder.

14. What did Yoko do for her father after Setsuko dies?
(a) She sent her daughter to live with him.
(b) She urged him to move in with her.
(c) She moved in with him.
(d) She hired a maid.

15. Because you cannot sell cans in Tokyo, what did Kazu have to do in order to earn money from them?
(a) Cut them up with scissors.
(b) Fill them with water or juice.
(c) Crush them with a hammer.
(d) Make art out of them.

Short Answer Questions

1. How old did Shige tell Kazu his son was when he left the family?

2. How often did Kazu's daughter Yoko's family visit after Kazu returns home?

3. How old did Shige tell Kazu he was when he had his only child?

4. How many years after Kazu's son died did he begin going to the cabaret?

5. What monument did Shige tell Kazu was initially meant to be placed near the Imperial Palace but was deemed indecent?

(see the answer keys)

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