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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 does everyone believe will be Maeve's life and career choice?

2. When Dennis and Billy get up the nerve to talk to the two girls, where do they learn the girls are from?

3. What does Dennis' daughter do when they return to the house?

4. Where did Billy work in addition to his main job to make some extra money?

5. What did Billy have in common with Maeve's father?

Short Essay Questions

1. When does Billy find out the real truth about Eva?

2. What arrangements has Dennis made to be at the Long Island house when Billy returns from Ireland in 1975?

3. Explain the irony of Billy's stopping to see Dennis when he returns from Ireland.

4. How does the relationship between the Irish girls and Dennis and Billy evolve?

5. What was the fate of the Irish girl?

6. What is the Long Island house and how did Dennis come to own it?

7. What was Billy's habit of writing notes to people?

8. Explain the foreshadowing of Dennis' daughter meeting Matt in Chapter 3.

9. How does Billy's promise to Eva come about?

10. How does Dennis' desire to see Billy succeed impact Dennis negatively?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Billy wanted desperately to bring Eva to America not only because he loved her but also because it would improve her quality of life. Describe the experience of Eva and her family in Ireland. Why would they have wanted to come to America? Was Billy's dream feasible at all? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the overall setting for the book. Then drill down to describe the three most important settings related to the plot. Explain the significance for each location as it relates to the story.

Essay Topic 3

Just prior to meeting Eva, Billy and Dennis return home from World War II. Explain the significance of this war on America in general and Billy and Dennis specifically. What impact did the war have on the choices that Billy and Dennis made? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 986 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample