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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 is Ichiro's father's mood on the day of Ichiro's mother's funeral?

2. What is good about the church Tommy eventually goes to?

3. What is wrong with the voice of the priest who is conducting the ceremony at Ichiro's mother's funeral?

4. What is Ichiro finally starting to learn about people as he gets a new job?

5. What happens when Freddie loses control of the car near the end of the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does finding a job represent to Ichiro?

2. Why does Ichiro's mother drown herself?

3. What news does Emi share with Ichiro after his mother's funeral?

4. How does Ichiro cause Bull's face to gush with blood?

5. Describe Kenji's father's house.

6. Why does Tommy's memory stand out in Ichiro's mind?

7. What does Ichiro finally start to understand about his past after taking the job at the Christian Rehabilitation Center?

8. What is Ichiro's father so impressed with at Ichiro's mother's funeral?

9. Why does Ichiro's father feel a sense of relief following Ichiro's mother's death?

10. What does Ichiro's behavior to the Japanese waiter at the Burnside Cafe symbolize?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Ichiro's father feel a sense of relief when his wife drowns herself in the bathtub? Give at least three reasons to explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

What is a "no-no" boy and explain why you think the term was needed to be coined in the first place? Which characters in the novel could be described as no-no boys? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how bitterness is a continuing theme throughout the novel. In what way is Ichiro bitter? Are other characters affected by bitterness? Are there any solutions to the bitter attitudes displayed by the characters?

(see the answer keys)

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