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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 plant grows under Shingo's cherry tree?

2. What time does Shingo get out of bed in Chapter 15, Section 3?

3. What were two neighborhood girls using for dishes in the neighborhood play house?

4. How much younger is Kinu than Mrs. Ikeda?

5. How long does Shingo want to rest in the ground?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Americans get some ancient lotus seeds to sprout?

2. Why does Shingo take his shoe off his right foot on the train?

3. What is being celebrated and how at the beginning of Chapter 9?

4. What does Kikuko explain about the ringing of the bell for the anniversary celebration?

5. Why does Shingo suspect that his friend who had cancer died from suicide?

6. What presents does Kikuko bring back from Tokyo?

7. What happened to a little girl when Satoko grabbed the girl's kimono sleeve?

8. Why does Satoko rip off cherry branches?

9. How did Teru act last winter when Kikuko saw a snake at the kitchen door?

10. What does Kikuko read about Aihara in the newspaper?

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

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

Essay Topic 3

Both Yasuko and Shingo have dreams. Discuss and compare the dreams that they have.

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