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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. How many cigarettes does Shingo have in Section 3 of Chapter 3 before he asks Eiko to go dancing?

2. What does Shingo observe that the fence is made of that is in front of the house where Shuichi's mistress lives?

3. How many middle-school pregnancies had there been in South Tsugaru?

4. Where did Shuichi grow up?

5. How long have Yasuko and Shingo been married?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Mizuta die?

2. How does Shingo describe sunflowers he sees in his neighborhood?

3. Why would it be difficult for Fusako and Aihara to flee if the typhoon should get really bad?

4. In "Chestnuts," what birds does Shingo see?

5. What sound does Shingo hear when he wakes in the night in Chapter 1?

6. Why does Kikuko have a scar on her forehead?

7. What wakes Shingo at the beginning of Chapter 8?

8. Describe Shingo's family.

9. What does Yasuko tell her daughter when Fusako says that Shingo is nice to Kikuko?

10. Describe the photograph of Toriyama that was at his funeral.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Yasuko says "storms make trees take deeper root." Discuss what this phrase means and how it relates to problems faced by characters in the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Fusako seems to be jealous of Kikuko. Discuss the relationship between Fusako and Kikuko.

Essay Topic 3

It is discovered that Kinu is pregnant. Discuss Kinu's pregnancy and how various characters react to the pregnancy.

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