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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 not go see a film with Ruby in the summer of 1963?

2. What obstacle presents itself on the roads in Scotland?

3. What does Lucy-Vida confess to Ruby?

4. What is the name of Bunty's boyfriend?

5. Who does Ruby believe is her mother's favorite child?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Pearl die?

2. How do Kathleen and Ruby spend the summer after finishing high school?

3. What is Ruby's "reward" for her morning minding the pet Shop by herself?

4. What does Ruby do for a living?

5. Why does Tom laugh when his hand is blown off?

6. How does Ruby find her mother when she returns to York in 1992?

7. How does Ruby discover she had a twin sister?

8. Why does Bunty abandon the ironing so suddenly the night of the fire?

9. What happens on Mothering Sunday?

10. What happens on Shrove Tuesday?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kate Atkinson has said that this novel is about cupboards. How is that so?

Essay Topic 2

Several times throughout the novel, Ruby says, "I am a precious jewel. I am a drop of blood. I am Ruby Lennox." What is the significance of these sentences, and why are they repeated throughout the book?

Essay Topic 3

At the end of the novel, as she parts from Ruby at the train station, Patricia says, "The past is what you leave behind in life, Ruby," and Ruby answers, "Nonsense, Patricia, the past's what you take with you." Which phillosophy do you think Atkinson believes? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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