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. In what year was the Poor Law Act established?

2. Who was Nicholas Cummins?

3. What was the farmer's secondary crop?

4. How many acres were planted?

5. Cummins contacted which of the following regarding the plight of the Irish?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how the blight arrived in Ireland and infected the crops.

2. Explain the physicians' advice to the sick and dying regarding disease.

3. What laws were passed by King William of Orange?

4. Describe the conditions on the ships sailing to America.

5. What does the author mean when she stated "entire families disappeared?"

6. Why was the summer of 1845 considered to be particularly fickle?

7. Although some farmers were concerned, many others were not. What was the prediction regarding the crops?

8. What are cash crops? Why were they important to the farmer?

9. The author states that the potato famine had little to do with the shortage of food. What was the real issue?

10. New diseases began to plague the people. Describe the new illnesses and how they spread.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A great deal was written about the Irish unions and the way the handled the famine and ensuing devastation. Explain the concept of the union and what its actions were before, during and after the famine.

Essay Topic 2

Mass burial was a necessity during the height of the famine and the ensuing disaster. What caused so many of the people to die? How were the corpses handled? How does mass burial go against Irish tradition and religion? What else could have been done with the bodies? Why was lime used in the process?

Essay Topic 3

The Irish are often known as being a friendly and fanciful culture. Describe the Irish culture, including its religion, social policies, and folk lore.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 679 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample