View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

3. Which of Kazu's family members was the first to die not long after he returned home?
(a) His mother.
(b) His granddaughter.
(c) His father.
(d) His daughter.

4. Why did Kazu begin having trouble sleeping after his wife died?
(a) He worried Mari might die.
(b) He thought of how his wife and son both died in sleep.
(c) He had nightmares throughout the night.
(d) The cicadas were too loud.

5. Where was the hostel Kazu met at the cabaret club from?
(a) Fukushima.
(b) Osaka.
(c) Shinsekai.
(d) Tokyo.

6. What was the first rose Kazu says he ever held and where?
(a) A yellow rose in Shige's hut.
(b) A red rose in Tokyo.
(c) A pink rose in Fukushima.
(d) A white rose at Shinsekai.

7. Kazu sees an old man on the bench who looks very neat. What is it about him that makes Kazu believe he must be homeless?
(a) He has a pile of old magazines beside him.
(b) He has bags of ginkgo nuts.
(c) The hundreds of cans bagged up at his feet.
(d) He is asking people for money.

8. What did Kazu see on the futon beside him the morning after the 49th day mourning ceremony for his neighbor?
(a) Setsuko had set out breakfast for him.
(b) Setsuko was dead.
(c) His sleeping daughter.
(d) His cat.

9. What does the jogger Kazu sees thank God for in his note at the temple?
(a) He thanks God for his good health.
(b) He thanks God for his father's speedy recovery.
(c) He thanks God that he finished the marathon.
(d) He thanks God he met his wife.

10. What took up most of the space in Shige's hut?
(a) Clothes.
(b) Family photos.
(c) Books.
(d) Cans.

11. Kazu hears the sigh of a sobbing homeless man who is doing what, which Kazu says is unusual for a homeless person?
(a) Crying that he is hungry.
(b) Pleading with a stranger to help him.
(c) Complaining he cannot get work.
(d) Telling his life story.

12. What did Kazu find interesting about the calendar hung up in Shige's hut?
(a) Each month had a picture of a different family member.
(b) He had indicated several medical appointments that month.
(c) He had circled some days in red and some in blue.
(d) He had lots of people's birthdays written on it.

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

14. What does Kazu wonder about regarding Shige after Kazu's death?
(a) Kazu wonders if the things Shige told him were all lies.
(b) Kazu wonders what Shige did for a living before he was homeless.
(c) Kazu wonders if he should have let Shige tell him his life story.
(d) Kazu wonders if Shige was saddened by his death.

15. What does Kazu see at Ueno Park less than 30 minutes after the homeless were supposed to have left the park?
(a) An outdoor art exhibit.
(b) A pop-up cafe.
(c) The Imperial family posing for photos.
(d) Police riot vans.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. How long does Kazu say it would take him to reassemble his hut at Ueno Park after a forced evacuation?

3. What does Kazu say he felt about the hostess the first time they danced at the cabaret?

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

5. When Kazo reflects on his life in Tokyo, what does he say he was too busy working to do?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 689 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample