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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Book Two: Chapter 9, "All The Little Flowers," how does Natsu feel when thinking about her past relationship with Naruse?
(a) Frustrated and angry about the way things ended.
(b) Nostalgic and yearning for the good times they had together.
(c) Grateful for the memories but relieved they are no longer together.
(d) Regretful and wishing she had tried harder to make things work.

2. In Book Two: Chapter 8, "Where Is Your Ambition?", Natsu and her friends discuss a hypothetical situation involving a life-saving decision. What is the situation?
(a) Whether to give a kidney to a dying friend.
(b) Whether to give a kidney to a dying husband.
(c) Whether to receive a kidney transplant.
(d) Whether to donate a kidney to a stranger.

3. In Book Two: Chapter 13, "A Tall Order," what is Rika working on during the holidays and at the time of the conversation with Natsu?
(a) A blog about infertility.
(b) A book that had already been published.
(c) A new series for a newspaper.
(d) Galleys for a novel coming out in spring.

4. In Book Two: Chapter 9, "All The Little Flowers," what makes Natsu feel like she could not join the club of people with kids?
(a) She believes she is too young to consider having children.
(b) She did not have a partner to have children with.
(c) She feels she lacks the knowledge and understanding of parenthood.
(d) She did not want to have children.

5. In Book One: Chapter 7, "All That You Hold Dear," why is Midoriko crying?
(a) She is frustrated and scared about her future and wants to help her family.
(b) She is upset that her mother has to work and cannot spend more time with her.
(c) She wants to get attention from her mother.
(d) She is angry at her mother for not telling her the truth.

6. In Book Two: Chapter 9, "All The Little Flowers," what is Natsu doing at the beginning of the chapter?
(a) Reflecting on her past relationship.
(b) Writing a series of essays.
(c) Relaxing on an island vacation.
(d) Working on her novel.

7. In Book Two: Chapter 13, "A Tall Order," how many New Year's greetings did Natsu receive in 2017?
(a) 1.
(b) 3.
(c) 2.
(d) 4.

8. In Book One: Chapter 7, "All That You Hold Dear," why is Natsu worried about Makiko's absence?
(a) Makiko has gone to a clinic and does not return on time.
(b) Makiko has lost her phone.
(c) Makiko has gotten lost in Tokyo.
(d) Makiko is stuck in traffic.

9. In Book One: Chapter 7, "All That You Hold Dear," what does Midoriko do with the eggs at the beginning of the passage?
(a) She throws them at her mother, Makiko.
(b) She throws them out the window.
(c) She scrambles them for breakfast.
(d) She breakse them over her own head, crying and making her hair frothy with egg.

10. In Book Two: Chapter 10, "Choose From The Following Options," why does the woman feel limited in her options for sperm donation in Japan?
(a) Japanese laws restrict access to sperm donation for single women.
(b) She cannot find any legitimate sperm banks in the country.
(c) The Japanese language make it difficult for her to communicate with foreign sperm banks.
(d) She cannot afford the high costs of sperm donation in Japan.

11. In Book Two: Chapter 8, "Where Is Your Ambition?", what did the protagonist's male editor criticize about her writing?
(a) Her choice of words and expressions.
(b) Her inability to create likable characters.
(c) Her frequent use of Osaka accent in the dialogue.
(d) Her lack of genuine ambition.

12. In Book Two: Chapter 12, "Merry Christmas," what is the main topic of the conversation between Natsuko and Rie?
(a) Social media and online communities.
(b) The earthquake in Sendai.
(c) Cooking recipes.
(d) Sake and alcoholic beverages.

13. In Book Two: Chapter 13, "A Tall Order," what does Jun Aizawa do for a living?
(a) Professor.
(b) Physician.
(c) Novelist.
(d) Social media manager.

14. In Book Two: Chapter 10, "Choose From The Following Options," what concern does the woman express about using a sperm donor from the internet?
(a) The possibility of meeting a donor at a cafe.
(b) The potential lack of genetic information about the donor.
(c) The cost of overnighting the sperm from a distant donor.
(d) The risk of infectious diseases from self-injection.

15. In Book Two: Chapter 12, "Merry Christmas," why does Rie feel detached from her daughter?
(a) She has a strained relationship with her husband.
(b) She experienced postpartum depression.
(c) She believes her daughter will eventually hate her.
(d) She dislikes being a mother.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Book Two: Chapter 9, "All The Little Flowers," how does Natsu feel about sexuality and having a child at the end of the chapter?

2. In Book Two: Chapter 8, "Where Is Your Ambition?", what makes Natsu feel depressed and disheartened after her first book?

3. In Book Two: Chapter 11, "I Am So Happy Cause Today...," who does Natsu use to visit the bathhouse with?

4. In Book Two: Chapter 12, "Merry Christmas," where is the reading event held?

5. In Book Two: Chapter 10, "Choose From The Following Options," what is the author's main challenge in writing about the yakuza in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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