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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. Who does Stephen come to learn has resigned from life in politics?

2. What does Julie leave Stephen regarding Chilterns?

3. What is one of Stephen's theories about Kate's disappearance?

4. What is Stephen's first book called, originally?

5. When Stephen gets home, who does he tell about Kate's disappearance?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Stephen's first novel originally about before it becomes a children's book?

2. What is Stephen's memory about bicycles that he wants to remember with his family, and why does it bring about some fear and regret in him?

3. How did Charles make the move into politics?

4. How is Stephen Lewis described in Chapter 1?

5. What is Stephen hopeful for as he waits for Julie?

6. What does Stephen see at The Bell, and how does it affect him?

7. How is Kate attired the day she is missing?

8. How does Charles convince Stephen to publish the book as a children's one?

9. How does Julie initially cope with Kate's disappearance?

10. What happens when Stephen submits his first novel to Gott's?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In The Child In Time, Stephen appears to travel through time seamlessly. Time and space have more ambiguous boundaries? What do you think of the way time and space are portrayed in The Child In Time? Which aspects do you find more or less appealing? How does this relate to the past and memories? How does this affect future events?

Essay Topic 2

Through Stephen, McEwan offers a lens to view the government and corruption via the committees. He describes the officials in The Child In Time as self-serving. Describe the typical government worker in The Child In Time. Do you think this is realistic and characteristic of today? Do you think the issues that McEwan discusses are still relevant today and if so, in what ways?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the significance of the novel's title. What did the author mean by calling the book The Child In Time? Cite an example to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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