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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 are the date and location of Part IV?

2. Where does Christopher ask his driver to point him?

3. How does Kung respond when Christopher identifies himself as a long time fan?

4. What landmark is Christopher looking for?

5. How old is Jennifer at the end of the book?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What odd habit does Christopher observe in the people of Shanghai?

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

5. What does Uncle Philip offer Christopher at the end of their meeting?

6. Describe the Inn of Morning Happiness.

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

8. Describe Christopher's reunion with his mother.

9. What does Uncle Philip say happened to Christopher's parents?

10. What happens at the consulate when Christopher asks to meet with Mr. MacDonald?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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

Essay Topic 3

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.

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