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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. As a child what is Christopher's feeling about his ambition to become a great detective?

2. What is Christopher's response to Sarah's proposal that he take her to the Meredith Foundation dinner?

3. What musical instrument does Uncle Philip encourage Christopher to go with him to see?

4. What is the shape of Christopher's London home in Part III?

5. When his mother stops laughing suddenly outside his father's study, what is Christopher's first thought?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Christopher spend his time in the summer of 1923?

2. Describe Christopher's residence in 1937.

3. What is the "dining room episode?"

4. Where is Charles Emery's body found?

5. How is Jennifer's nanny selected?

6. How does the Emery case wrap up?

7. Describe Ling Tien.

8. How is Christopher and Akira's friendship when Akira returns from Japan?

9. When Christopher finally sees Akira after Mr. Banks disappearance, how does Akira behave?

10. What happens after Uncle Philip leaves Christopher?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose three examples of Christopher's perception of himself clashing with others' perception of him. What is the effect of this perception gap? Why do you think Ishiguro uses this device?

Essay Topic 2

Kazuo Ishiguro is very specific about dates and years In WHEN WE WERE ORPHANS. Why is specificity of time crucial to the story? What does it reveal about the narrator? How does it affect the reader? How does this specificity contrast with Christopher's highly subjective memories of his past?

Essay Topic 3

What role does detection play in WHEN WE WERE ORPHANS? What inherent qualities in Christopher's character do you think lead him to this career choice? How do his family circumstances shape him as a detective?

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