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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. What do the terrorists do to the entrance Maureen tried to escape through?

2. Who is Father Murphy shot by during the attack by the police?

3. What covers Maureen's escape route while she is being pursued by the Fenians in the crawlspace?

4. Where is Maureen taken at the end of the book?

5. In the park, what does Martin tell Burke?

Short Essay Questions

1. How would you describe the relationship between Schroeder and Burke? Why?

2. What are the arrangements Spiegel sets up for after the police attack?

3. Why hasn't Flynn responded to the government's offer?

4. How does Martin die? What do you think happened?

5. Why do Hickey and Megan go into the crawlspace after Maureen when she tries to escape?

6. Why does Schroeder leave the press conference?

7. Describe the preparations the Fenians do with the lights just before the attack by the police.

8. In Book 5, why doesn't the bomb go off as planned?

9. Describe the pressure the Mayor uses to get everyone to go forward with the attack.

10. Describe the conflict between Hickey and Flynn at the end of Book 4, Chapter 55.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the novel Cathedral, Burke and Schroeder each act as negotiator at different times and in different ways. In an essay, compare and contrast each of their negotiating styles. Ultimately, who is more successful? Use examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, an author's bias about an event comes through in their writing. In an essay, evaluate DeMille's stance on the conflict in Northern Ireland. Whose side would he be on? Use examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

The setting significantly affects the plot of a novel. In an essay, analyze the role of setting including a description of the setting of Cathedral, how the setting can change the novel, and examples of how the novel would be different if the setting were to change.

(see the answer keys)

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