View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What color swimsuit does the sunbather wear?

2. Why does the sibling begin to resist the family game?

3. Who is sunbathing in Chapter 4?

4. Who gives a science fiction novel as a birthday gift?

5. Who has a serious talk with Jack at the beginning of Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the family do to celebrate Jack's birthday?

2. How does Jack's acne problem affect him socially?

3. What happens when Tom points out his bully to Jack?

4. When and why does the sexual game the three siblings play stop?

5. Why does the whole family attack Father verbally over a decision he made regarding Julie's extracurricular activities?

6. Describe the social life of Jack's family.

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

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

9. How does Jack release tension in the garden at the beginning of Chapter 4? Why does he stop?

10. Discuss the dialog between Julie and Jack when Julie tells him that Mother has died.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the exposition of The Cement Garden.

Essay Topic 2

There are four points of view in which literature is written: first person, third person objective, third person limited, and omniscient. Which point of view does the author use in this book? Is this the most effective point of view for this story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Name and define the five types of conflict. Which conflict prevailed in this novel? Select a different type of conflict and explain how the story would have differed under that particular type of conflict.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 622 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample