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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. What does Christopher's mother call the plump-faced man?

2. What is Christopher's memory of Akira's house?

3. What does Christopher suspect happened to Akira in Japan?

4. What does Sarah say to Christopher about the Foundation dinner?

5. Years later what does Christopher recognize about the plump-faced man?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe an instance of Mr. Banks boasting.

2. What does Christopher remember about Uncle Philip on the day of Wang Ku's visit?

3. What does Akira believe about Ling Tien?

4. How does Miss Hemmings gain admittance to the Meredith Foundation dinner?

5. What does Christopher remember about the days following his father's disappearance?

6. Where is Christopher's father's study and what are the rules about it?

7. Describe Sir Cecil Medhurst's speech at the Meredith Foundation Dinner.

8. What does Akira say when Christopher asks if his parents sometime stop talking to each other?

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

10. Why does Christopher consider inviting Chamberlain to the Dorchester "the height of inconsideration?"

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

WHEN WE WERE ORPHANS is written in first person. Why is this the most effective choice for Ishiguro's purposes? Discuss the impact of first person on character and story development.

Essay Topic 2

As a child Christopher revered the great Inspector Kung. As a grown man Christopher meets the Inspector and discovers he has become a disheveled old drunk. How is this a turning point for Christopher? How is Christopher's meeting with Kung a warning to him? How does it drive him forward?

Essay Topic 3

Most of the novel takes place in London and Shanghai. Compare and contrast these settings. How does Ishiguro use this contrast to develop themes? What are they?

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This section contains 870 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample