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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 type of creature is Piyyut?

2. Why does Natsuki's family travel to the mountain house in Part II after all, changing their plans?

3. What does Yuu say he and Natsuki should take in the spaceship with them?

4. What do Natsuki's and Yuu's family do when they discover the children naked in Part II?

5. What creatures were once allowed to grow in the mountain house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What refrain does Natsuki constantly repeat to her mother to please her?

2. Why is Natsuki barred from being a pallbearer in Part II?

3. What does Natsuki try to do right after her grandfather's funeral?

4. What do the adults always ask the children to do at the mountain house when they first arrive which is part of tradition?

5. What happens to Natsuki after Mr. Igasaki sexually abuses her?

6. How does Natsuki feel her mother treats her younger sister Kise?

7. In Part II, why does the family decide not to go to Akishina for Obon?

8. In Part II, what does Natsuki desperately want to do with Yuu?

9. What is really unusual about Natsuki's and Tomoya's marriage?

10. Which relative is always kind to the children in Natsuki's family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How and why does Murata establish Akishina as a refuge and a place of comfort and solace for Natsuki in the early stages of the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does Murata describe the effects of Natsuki's mother's favoritism on her childhood and adolescence? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

What reactions does Natsuki receive from nearly everyone she confides in about the abuse she suffers at the hands of Mr. Igasaki, and how does that affect her? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 536 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample