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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is this "crudded milk, fantastical puff-paste" that George Mackay Brown speaks of in chapter 6?
(a) No purpose in life.
(b) Insubstantial pastry.
(c) Our body.
(d) Angels who fall from heights.

2. What do the Scottish and Irish laborers do when they arrive?
(a) Erect village of Nissen huts.
(b) Evict all the Norday residents.
(c) Take over the main buildings and farm.
(d) Cover a beach with concrete.

3. Why are the doors all gone from the village homes after the war?
(a) Wild animals tore the doors off their hinges.
(b) Jimmy Greeno sold them to Norsemen.
(c) Everyone took their door with them.
(d) Hippies moved in and burned the doors for warmth.

4. After Tina Lyde is chased off by Thorfinn's sister in chapter 6 what does Tina do?
(a) Dresses as a man and hires on a fishing yacht.
(b) Marries a wealthy Irishman.
(c) Stands at a distance, at twilight and looks towards Ingle.
(d) Becomes a nun.

5. What boat is being fixed up at the beginning of chapter 8?
(a) Matthew Ragnaron's Seascape.
(b) Jacob Olafson's Scallop.
(c) Thorfinn Ragnarson's Selkie.
(d) James MacTavish's Rivals.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does the Norday laird of the 1930s spend most of his time?

2. What do the three young lady typists bring with them to Norday?

3. Where has the Reverend Hector Drummond arrived at Norday from?

4. What awkward announcement does Matthew Ragnarson make to his children in chapter 6?

5. Where does Thorfinn see peat smoke rising from on what he thinks is a deserted Norday?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Thorfinn do when he returns to the island after the war?

2. What does Thorfinn take with him when he is liberated from the German war camp?

3. Why was the present laird, Mr. Harcourt-Smithers, so much poorer than his forefathers?

4. What is a press gang?

5. Why did Sophie come back to Norday Island in the end?

6. How does Thorfinn see Sophie that very first time?

7. Why did the Westvoe farm catch on fire and burn to the ground?

8. What did Winnie Swona do when some of her hens disappeared from the henhouse during the aerodrome building?

9. What is happening to both the laird's house and the minister's manse in chapter 5?

10. Why does the seal girl, Mara, not follow the seal-people into the sea?

(see the answer keys)

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