The Cement Garden | Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Chapter One

1. What do Jack's parents argue about in Chapter 1? What does his mother demand and what is his father's reaction?

2. What do Jack and his sisters do for fun on the night their parents argue in Chapter 1?

3. What happens when it is Jack's turn in the game he plays with his sisters on the night their parents argue in Chapter 1?

4. What happens to the garden after Father's first heart attack?

5. What does Julie tell Jack she imagines will happen between Father...
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