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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. In what room of the house at One Cloud Street did the old woman who previously owned it die?

2. Who is the lonely widow that Oriel Lamb meets at the Anzac Club in Chapter V?

3. How old does Quick Lamb turn on his birthday in the second half of Chapter III?

4. It is New Year’s Day of what year when Oriel sets up a tent in the backyard in Chapter IV?

5. What do the members of the Lamb family spin in order to determine who will wash dishes in Chapter III?

Short Essay Questions

1. What can the character of Rose Pickles be seen to represent symbolically in Chapter I?

2. How are the characters of Lester and Oriel Lamb introduced in Chapter II? What is their family doing when they are introduced?

3. What is foreshadowed through the character of the black man that appears in Chapter III?

4. What is symbolized by Fish’s fit during the celebration of Guy Fawkes Day in Chapter IV?

5. What is noteworthy about the narratives of Quick and Fish Lamb in Chapter IV?

6. How does the author examine the themes of heredity and family in Chapter I?

7. How is Fish’s mental capacity changed after his accident?

8. What is the central event that dominates Chapter II? Why is this event important in the story?

9. What is foreshadowed by the central event that occurs in Chapter II of the novel?

10. How do the Pickles family members differ from the Lambs in their perception of luck, as noted in Chapter III?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author’s depiction of the house at Number One Cloud Street in the novel. How large is the house? What history of the home is detailed in Chapter III? In what ways is the author’s depiction of the house similar to his depiction of the novel’s characters? What does this foreshadow?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the characters of Lester and Oriel Lamb in the novel. How old are Lester and Oriel when the story begins? How many children do they have? How is their relationship characterized? In what ways are the Lambs similar and different than the Pickles family?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the family history of Dolly Pickles in the novel. What secret does Dolly reveal to Rose about her mother? How has Dolly’s past influenced her actions in the story? Do you think that Dolly is an empathetic character? Why or why not?

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