View a FREE sample

This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Spring: April 1938.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Stephen decide to pray for?
(a) For all the problems in his life.
(b) For his parents' marriage.
(c) For his full recovery.
(d) For his mother's happiness.

2. What is Matsu's New Year's gift to Stephen?
(a) A daruma doll.
(b) A tama totem.
(c) A shime-nawa.
(d) A book of Japanese poetry.

3. What best describes Kenzo and Matsu in their youth?
(a) Kenzo was ill and Matsu was helpful.
(b) Kenzo was popular and Matsu was shy.
(c) Kenzo was brave and Matsu was neat.
(d) Kenzo was shy and Matsu was industrious.

4. How does Stephen describe the houses in the village of Yamaguchi?
(a) As small domiciles of peace.
(b) As sores on the already pained landscape.
(c) As being pieced together from scraps.
(d) As a mish-mash of leftovers.

5. What two people do Stephen and his father discuss shortly before his father's departure?
(a) Matsu and Matsu's sister.
(b) Pie and Keiko.
(c) Henry and Anne.
(d) King and Stephen's mother.

Short Answer Questions

1. What story does Sachi's caregiver in Yamaguchi tell her?

2. Why does Miko have to do the laundry?

3. What does the throwing of beans represent?

4. What does Stephen's mother ask him to do?

5. What does Sachi say Matsu told her when he discovered she ran away rather than take her own life?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 330 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample