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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 becomes of Inspector Kung?

2. Why does Christopher's driver stop when they are looking for the blind actor's house?

3. What does Christopher learn about his financial resources?

4. What does Kung remember about the house his men could not gain entry to?

5. Where does the girl urge Christopher to go?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when the lieutenant tells Christopher that they must wait before continuing to Yeh Chen's house?

2. What does Christopher do after he is certain he and Akira have not been pursued?

3. Describe Christopher's encounter with Sarah and Sir Cecil at the Lucky Chance Club.

4. At Christopher's welcome party, what is the crowd's response to the explosion heard outside?

5. Describe the Inn of Morning Happiness.

6. Describe Christopher's return to his childhood home.

7. How does the man driving Christopher to meet Sarah prove to be very useful?

8. What is Jennifer's proposal for herself and Christopher?

9. Describe Christopher and Akira's entry into Yeh Chen's house.

10. Describe Christopher's reunion with his mother.

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

Christopher's mother is one of the most prominent figures in his life both before and after her abduction. What qualities does Christopher inherit from his mother? How do these very qualities prevent him from giving up on finding her? How is Christopher's relationship with his mother transformed by her abduction? How is it transformed by her rescue?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the role of memory in the novel. What does Christopher say about his own memory? How does what Christopher remembers develop his character?

(see the answer keys)

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