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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 had Setsuko and Yoko gone to purchase Kazu's 60th birthday present?

2. 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?

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

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

5. What does Kazu say he never did regarding the cabaret hostess?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What is the Shogitai grave?

6. Describe the homeless man Kazu sees on one of the "sarcophagus-like stone benches" (100). How does he know he is homeless? Why might others not know?

7. 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?

8. Describe the conversation Kazu overhears between two homeless men, one of whom had worked in real estate.

9. Who does Kazu meet at Shinsekai? Describe their relationship.

10. What did Kazu think would happen to him after he died? What happened instead?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing Yu Miri 's commentary on class and classism in Tokyo Ueno Station. How is class important to the story? How does it affect the narrative? Use textual evidence to explain your analysis.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the author of Tokyo Ueno Station. Who is he? What else has he written? How is Tokyo Ueno Station similar or different from her other works?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing the symbolic significance of Kazu's family's economic status has on the story. Why is this important and how does it develop the themes of the story? What would be different if his family were wealthy? Use examples from the text to support your viewpoint.

(see the answer keys)

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