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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 two people do Stephen and his father discuss shortly before his father's departure?

2. Why did Kenzo stay in Tarumi?

3. What does Kenzo give Stephen?

4. Who sends Stephen a letter telling of the massacre in Nanking?

5. Why does Stephen originally buy the journal?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe a daruma doll.

3. What does Stephen think of Matsu when they initially meet?

4. How does the removal of Sachi's scarf indicate her growing closeness to Stephen?

5. Describe Yamaguchi.

6. What does Stephen struggle with at the Shinto shrine and why?

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

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

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

10. What implications are given that Matsu is becoming fond of Stephen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sachi's kare sansui is, by definition, a dry garden. Although she has chosen to include the blue-purple flower, the garden is mainly made up of rocks that represent the ripples of water. Stephen calls it an illusion. It could also be called a dead garden.

1) Why do you think Sachi chose this type of a garden rather than one filled with life?

2) What does the later inclusions of the blue-purple flower represent?

3) Why does Sachi rearrange the stones frequently?

Essay Topic 2

Stephen's budding relationship with Keiko is both exciting and frustrating for him. As their relationship progresses, and Stephen matures, his reaction to Keiko's responses also change. Document the progression of this relationship and explain how Stephen's personal growth and maturity is reflected in his actions and feelings.

Essay Topic 3

It's clear that characters in this story affect the lives of others around them. Imagine Kenzo without Sachi, or Sachi without Michiko's influence. For three characters, choose a single person in the story that you think has the most influence on them. How would each character's life be different without that person?

(see the answer keys)

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