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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. Why does one character think Mother is relieved when Father dies?

2. Where do Jack and Julie put Mother's body?

3. What do Sue, Julie and Jack do when the sheet won't cover Mother's head and feet?

4. Why don't the children bury Mother in their garden?

5. Who is mad to find that Mother has been sick for a while?

Short Essay Questions

1. After they go back inside the house, what plans for Mother's body do the three older siblings discuss?

2. Why did Jack fake being sick when he was 8 and what happened when he got home?

3. Where does the family celebrate Jack's birthday and why?

4. What happens when Julie covers Mother's body with a sheet?

5. Why, in Chapter 2, does Jack begin to avoid Mother?

6. What was Jack doing and why does he run off at the end of Chapter 2?

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

8. Why is Tom tired of being a boy?

9. What does Julie tell Jack she imagines will happen between Father and Tom as Father's health declines?

10. What does Mother talk to Jack about one morning when she awakens him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the two oldest siblings and the two youngest ones.

Essay Topic 2

What is the difference between conflict and crisis in a novel? How are they similar? Also relate the differences and similarities specifically to The Cement Garden.

Essay Topic 3

What is the difference between tone and mood in literature? How are they similar? How are both communicated to a reader?

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This section contains 629 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample