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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 has Omi done in preparation for the arrival of Toranaga and Yabu?

2. What confidence does Toranaga appear to have in Hiro-matsu?

3. How does Toranaga handle the situation with the large number of samurai on the beach when he arrives?

4. How will Fujiko pay for the reconstruction of Blackthorne's house if his finances are insufficient?

5. Why is Toranaga clever to resign from the council?

Short Essay Questions

1. What proposal of Blackthorne's meets with opposition from Toranaga?

2. Why does Toranaga lose his temper when Buntaro requests permission to kill Blackthorne?

3. How does Omi further attempt to ingratiate himself with Lord Toranaga?

4. What is the unusual request Buntaro makes of Blackthorne.

5. What are the circumstances that call off the attack against Mariko after the bomb goes off?

6. What is Blackthorne's surprise about the rebuilding of his house after the earthquake and fire?

7. Why do Blackthorne, his crew, and some samurai move the Erasmus?

8. What unusual battle plan does Toranaga come up with to use against Ishido?

9. What instruction does Yodoko give Ochiba, the mother of Yaemon?

10. How has the Japanese influence rubbed off on Blackthorne when he visits his crew?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay of at least two typewritten, double spaced pages on the topic, Cultural Differences and Cuisine. Point one in your essay should be the revulsion the Japanese have toward Blackthorne's skinning and cooking of the rabbit. Discuss how Buddhism and custom play a part in that revulsion. Point two should center on Blackthorne's imaginary letter back home about the food in Japan. Point three should center on Blackthorne's adaptation to the Japanese cuisine, including eating raw fish.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay of at least two typewritten, double spaced pages on the topic, Comparison of Samurai Brutality and Inquisition Torture. Your essay should include examples of torture methods used by both. Next, make a case for the inappropriate moral judgment of samurai use of torture and cruelty by Westerners. Conclude with your opinion about torture and human rights in general.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay of at least two typewritten, double spaced pages on the topic, What I think Happens to Blackthorne. Begin with Blackthorne's being given Kiku as a wife and everything he needs to build ships without knowing that Toranaga plans to destroy them all. Speculate on what you think ultimately becomes of Blackthorne. Give three possible scenarios: (1) he manages to get away by himself on a ship before Toranaga can destroy it; (2) he manages to get away with Kiku on a trading ship that comes to Osaka; or (3) he settles in comfortably with Kiku and remains in Japan for the rest of his life.

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