Which statement best summarizes what happens in the weeks following K.’s death?

• He falls ill and has nightmares.

• He moves to Nagano.

• He starts attending a different school.

• He spends hours studying K.’s artwork.

Why does the seventh man’s view of the past begin to change?

• Studying K.’s art, he sees K. was gentle and realizes that his last look was not one of hatred.

• He realizes that he did not need to move to Nagano.

• Studying K.’s art, he realizes that K. was gentle and did not mind dying in the wave.

• After his mother dies, he realizes that it was the third wave, not the first, that killed K.

What is the most important discovery that the seventh man makes when he returns to his hometown?

• He realizes that K. was a sickly.

• He learns that his father has died of TB.

• He sees that the town remains the same as when he was a boy.

• He realizes that the dark shadow of K.’s death has left him.

When the narrator begins to tell his story, he introduces it in this way:

“In my case, it was a wave,” he said. “There is no way for me to tell, of course, what it will be for each of you. But in my case it just happened to take the form of a gigantic wave. It presented itself to me all of a sudden one day without warning. And it was devastating.”

What does the narrator’s comment most clearly imply? To help you choose your answer, consider the events of the story.

• He believes that in life, every individual must confront fear in some form or another.

• He believes that his life was changed by a disaster in a way that others cannot understand.

• He believes that he has succeeded despite not knowing what will happen to others.

• He believes that in life, everyone will face the risk of a giant wave caused by a storm.

Answer explanation

The part of the narrator's comment that most clearly supports the answer is, “There is no way for me to tell … what it will be for each of you.”

Which of the following best describes the situation in the frame story of “The Seventh Man”?

• The seventh man is speaking to fellow soldiers, all facing the dangers of war together.

• The seventh man is addressing a group, but the reader knows little about the situation.

• After a devastating loss, the seventh man finally makes peace with his past.

• After failing to save his childhood friend, the seventh man finally learns to forgive himself.

Which of the following is a key difference between the frame story and the story within the frame story in “The Seventh Man”?

• The frame story is told in the third person, whereas the interior story is told in the first person.

• The frame story is told in the first person, whereas the interior story is told in the third person.

• The frame story is set in the past, whereas the interior story is set in the present.

• The frame story is set in a future world, whereas the interior story is set in the present.

What is one main purpose of the frame story in “The Seventh Man”?

• Using vivid descriptions, explains why the seventh man was so attached to his friend K.

• By presenting events in clear sequence, it shows how the seventh man has been changed by his experiences.

• By describing listeners’ responses to the seventh man’s story, it shows that he is a bad storyteller.

• By leaving out details about where and why the seventh man is telling his story, it suggests that his story applies generally.

In “The Seventh Man,” which of the following is an important effect the writer achieves through the use of first-person narration?

• The seventh man’s experiences are presented in a fair, objective way.

• The pacing is more rapid because many story events are quickly summarized.

• The seventh man’s feelings appear vividly because he shares them himself.

• Suspense increases because the reader does not know what the seventh man knows.

What realization does the seventh man come to about his relationship with K. after reflecting on their past?

• He understands that he was always envious of K.'s talent.

• He realizes that K. was more than just a friend; he was a part of his identity.

• He acknowledges that he never truly appreciated K.'s kindness until it was too late.

• He believes that K. would have wanted him to move on without guilt.

How does the setting of the story influence the seventh man's memories of K.?

• The coastal town serves as a constant reminder of the tragedy he faced.

• The changing landscape reflects his evolving feelings about the past.

• The town's familiarity brings him comfort in his grief.

• The isolation of the town amplifies his feelings of loneliness.