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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. According to Chamberlain, what will happen to young Christopher if he remains in Shanghai much longer?

2. How does Christopher remember Uncle Philip's office?

3. What does Christopher remember about the days immediately following his failure to take the lotion back to Ling Tien's room?

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

5. What are Miss Givens and Jennifer doing when they return from shopping?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kinds of presents does Uncle Philip give Christopher when the boy comes to visit his office?

2. Describe the game Christopher and Akira invent.

3. How does Christopher tend to remember his boyhood companion Akira?

4. Describe Christopher's reunion with Colonel Chamberlain.

5. How is Jennifer's nanny selected?

6. Describe two examples of what Christopher refers to as "someone disapproving him and only just managing to conceal it."

7. How does Sarah Hemmings treat Christopher at the Mayfair flat?

8. What does Akira believe about Ling Tien?

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

10. Describe an instance of Mr. Banks boasting.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Social distinctions play a prominent role in WHEN WE WERE ORPHANS. Discuss how Ishiguro uses social distinctions to advance the plot and to define relationships between characters. Use examples from Shanghai and Britain.

Essay Topic 2

What role does the opium trade play in the novel? How does it create conflict? How does it develop characters? How does it drive the story?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay exploring the development of Christopher Banks. What is the reader led to believe about him at first? What things does Christopher say that encourage the reader to look at him differently? Is he a reliable narrator? How much more does the reader know about Christopher at the end of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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