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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 does Mike realize Mary and Harold are doing with him and their daughter?

2. What does Mike decide to stuff into his duffel to take home from Eiju's apartment?

3. Who does Eiju say he will leave the bar to if Mike does not want it?

4. Who are the trio of salarymen who frequent Eiju's bar?

5. Who comes to have dinner regularly at Eiju's as Eiju enters the later stages of his illness?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Sora an Mike talk about when Mike helps his father get the bar's liquor order?

2. What does Mike come to think of Eiju's regular patrons?

3. What does Eiju say when Mike tells him he is gay in Part III?

4. What does Kunihiko start doing as Eiju gets sicker?

5. What does Mike think of Kunihiko?

6. How does Eiju generally treat Mike when Mike first shows up in Osaka?

7. What does Mike say to Ben shortly before he leaves for Osaka that he knows he should not have said?

8. Why is Ryutaro so loyal to Eiju?

9. What surprises Mike about the name of Eiju's bar?

10. What is very upsetting to Mike about how his father Eiju abandoned him and Mitsuko?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Both Ben and Mike carry serious resentments towards their families, especially towards their fathers. Write an essay explaining how Washington explores the theme of handling resentment and bitterness in parent/child relationships.

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think Mike ultimately makes the choice to take the extended trip to see his terminally ill father Eiju in Japan, even though the two have not spoken in more than a decade? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does Mike's trip to Japan, and his working at Eiju's bar and meeting all of Eiju's friends and acquaintances, change Mike's view of his father? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

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