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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

3. How old did Shige tell Kazu his son was when he left the family?
(a) 6 months.
(b) 4.
(c) 17.
(d) 10.

4. How much was the homeless man Kazu listens to making in his profession before the bubble burst and his company went under?
(a) 45,000 yen/ month.
(b) 800,000 yen/ month.
(c) 1 million yen/ month.
(d) 17,000 yen /month.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Kazu listens to two women speak of how there are fewer of which type of bird in the area?

2. How did Setsuko's brother describe Kazu and his sister's final years together?

3. What does the homeless man Kazu hears telling another his life story say happened after he lost his job?

4. What do some believe happened to the homeless man Kazu recalls hearing tell his life story and sob?

5. 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?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why were the homeless often evacuated from Ueno Park and where would they go?

2. How did Kazu respond to the gift Yoko and Setsuko had given him for his 60th birthday and why?

3. Why is it interesting that Kazu's parents died not long after he returned home?

4. What does Kazu say teenagers had been doing to the homeless around when the homeless former realtor had died?

5. What happens to Setsuko seven years after Kazu returned home, and why does he blame himself?

6. After Kazu discusses his return home when he was 60, he describes Setsuko's life all the years he was away. What does he say she did?

7. Who is Mari? What does she do for Kazu after Setsuo's death? How does their relationship end?

8. What does Kazu see in Ueno Park just about 30 minutes after the homeless were to have all their things out?

9. Why does Kazu stop going to Shinsekai when he turns 60?

10. Where is the art exhibit Kazu observes and how are the old women in the gift shop described?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 948 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample