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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 object of Tomoko's did Matsu give to Sachi?
(a) A letter opener.
(b) The picture that hangs on her wall.
(c) Her writing pen.
(d) Her lucky stone.

2. What is Stephen's interpretation of his parents' marriage at the end of the December journal entries?
(a) That it is healing.
(b) That it is no more than a business arrangement.
(c) That it is at a painful point in a growth process.
(d) That it is over.

3. Where does Stephen see the "nicest Christmas tree I ever had"?
(a) At Keiko's house.
(b) In Matsu's garden.
(c) In Sachi's garden.
(d) In a memory of his youth in China.

4. Why is Stephen embarrassed by his body?
(a) He is pale.
(b) He has pock marks from his illness.
(c) He feels it is very weak.
(d) He has lost a great deal of weight.

5. Who gives Stephen the black lacquer box with homemade yoken?
(a) Sachi.
(b) Keiko.
(c) Pie.
(d) Miko.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Keiko respond to Stephen's offer to carry her basket of persimmons?

2. What does Stephen learn about his father at the beach?

3. Who is the person who meets Stephen at the train station in Tarumi?

4. How does Sachi say Tomoko died?

5. How does Stephen get to Kobe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Stephen think about the impact of the war?

2. Describe Sachi's house during the New Year's celebration?

3. What does Stephen's father reveal about Matsu's history?

4. Describe the events that lead to Stephen's trip to Tarumi.

5. Describe the relationship between Stephen and his father in the beginning of the book.

6. Describe the relationship between Kenzo, Matsu, and Sachi when Stephen first meets Kenzo.

7. What agreement do Stephen's parents seem to come to after his father's visit?

8. How is Setsbun celebrated?

9. Describe Yamaguchi.

10. How does Stephen feel about making friends with people once he is settled in the beach house?

(see the answer keys)

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