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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Kazu find interesting about the calendar hung up in Shige's hut?
(a) He had circled some days in red and some in blue.
(b) He had indicated several medical appointments that month.
(c) He had lots of people's birthdays written on it.
(d) Each month had a picture of a different family member.

2. Where did Shige tell Kazu the founder of the Kan'ei-ji Temple was from?
(a) Tokyo.
(b) Hiroshima.
(c) Osaka.
(d) Fukishima.

3. Kazu observes two women at the Ueno Art Museum barely looking at the pictures and instead discussing what?
(a) One woman's trouble finding a good job.
(b) One woman's upcoming wedding.
(c) One woman's situation with her soon-to-be ex-husband.
(d) One woman's pregnancy.

4. Kazu sees an old man on the bench who looks very neat. What is it about him that makes Kazu believe he must be homeless?
(a) He has bags of ginkgo nuts.
(b) He is asking people for money.
(c) The hundreds of cans bagged up at his feet.
(d) He has a pile of old magazines beside him.

5. Kazu walked the earth around Shino-bazu Pond the last time he had to evacuate Ueno Park and recalled what of the Pond's history?
(a) It was the location of the former Imperial Palace.
(b) It was a burial ground for unknown soldiers.
(c) It was once a horse-racing track.
(d) It was where his ancestors first arrived.

6. How many years after Kazu's son died did he begin going to the cabaret?
(a) 2.
(b) 10.
(c) 3.
(d) 6.

7. What are the occasional notices outside Ueno Park there to inform the homeless people about?
(a) Local soup kitchen hours.
(b) When they need to have their belongings cleared out of the area.
(c) Free clothing drives.
(d) Area food pantries.

8. Kazu hears the sigh of a sobbing homeless man who is doing what, which Kazu says is unusual for a homeless person?
(a) Crying that he is hungry.
(b) Complaining he cannot get work.
(c) Telling his life story.
(d) Pleading with a stranger to help him.

9. Who did Kazu think of when he and Setsuko attended the 49th day mourning ceremony for their neighbor?
(a) His wife.
(b) Koichi.
(c) His father.
(d) His mother.

10. What are some other things people ask God for in the notes they leave at the temple?
(a) To have a healthy baby.
(b) To win the lottery.
(c) To never be homeless.
(d) To make someone fall in love with them.

11. Which of Kazu's family members was the first to die not long after he returned home?
(a) His father.
(b) His granddaughter.
(c) His daughter.
(d) His mother.

12. For what industry did the homeless man Kazu hears crying work before he became homeless?
(a) Real Estate.
(b) Finance.
(c) Construction.
(d) Fishing.

13. Kazu says that 300 cans will earn you about 600 yen. What is something he says one can do with 600 yen?
(a) Have a fancy dinner.
(b) Get a hotel for a night.
(c) Have a shower or get a coffee.
(d) See a movie.

14. What does Kazu say the cabaret hostesses' perfume smelled like when they danced?
(a) His wife's perfume.
(b) Baby powder.
(c) Lavender.
(d) White rose.

15. Why did Kazu begin having trouble sleeping after his wife died?
(a) The cicadas were too loud.
(b) He had nightmares throughout the night.
(c) He worried Mari might die.
(d) He thought of how his wife and son both died in sleep.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Kazu decide to do at the age of 60?

2. What took up most of the space in Shige's hut?

3. How old was Kazu when he began to visit the cabaret club?

4. How long does Kazu say it would take him to reassemble his hut at Ueno Park after a forced evacuation?

5. What does Kazu wonder about after Shige died?

(see the answer keys)

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