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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What are the men given to eat?
(a) putrid fish.
(b) wilted cabbage.
(c) uncooked rice.
(d) sushi

2. How does Buntaro escape death?
(a) Rodrigues's galley comes close enough for him to swim.
(b) Toranaga sends him a horse and orders him to safety.
(c) Toranaga's men ambush the soldiers.
(d) the soldiers begin to slip and fall off the jetty.

3. Why does Toranaga deny the young widow the privilege of committing seppuku?
(a) because it is not allowed of women.
(b) because she is the sister of the shōgun.
(c) because he wants her to be publicly punished.
(d) because she is young and will have more children.

4. What does Blackthorne suspect about Father Sabastio?
(a) that he is using Blackthorne to elevate his own position.
(b) that he is a spy for the Portuguese
(c) that he is not interpreting properly for the Japanese.
(d) that he fears for his own life by talking to him.

5. What does Domingo teach Blackthorne?
(a) how to plan an escape.
(b) some Biblical history.
(c) some words and phrases in Japanese.
(d) how to keep warm in the cell.

Short Answer Questions

1. Before the storm, who comes on deck to see Blackthorne piloting the ship while Rodrigues sleeps?

2. What prevents Rodrigues from breaking the seal on the thing he is delivering to Toranaga?

3. What happens when Mariko's husband, Buntaro, is trapped at the end of the jetty?

4. Why does Hiro-matsu request permission to commit seppuku?

5. What does Yabu find on the Erasmus?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where are Blackthorne and his crew held prisoners?

2. How is the conflict between Toranaga and Ishido presented as Ishido is introduced into the novel?

3. What is the political function of Yodoko in the novel?

4. How does Omi persuade Blackthorne to come out of the pit?

5. How is tension presented in Toranaga's character after meeting Ishido?

6. Why is Rodrigues swept overboard on the galley?

7. How does John Blackthorne arrive in Japan?

8. What is the first indication of Yabu's ambition as Hiro-matsu arrives to see the Erasmus?

9. Why does Blackthorne want to get on board the Erasmus?

10. What does Rodrigues tell Blackthorne about the Japanese rowers on board the galley?

(see the answer keys)

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