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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 Fish talk to in the library that is described as always crying or angry in Chapter VII?

2. What job has Quick Lamb taken in the beginning of Chapter VI?

3. What Australian slang term from the novel is an affectionate insult referring to someone who is unfashionable?

4. It is the last day of what decade when Rose and Quick find a flat in Chapter IX?

5. Where is the character of Geoffrey Birch from?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is represented symbolically by the black hitchhiker that Quick Lamb meets in Chapter VI?

2. What is seen on the walls of the library at Cloudstreet in Chapter IX? What do these images represent?

3. What is significant about the wedding of Rose and Quick in Chapter VIII? How does this event relate to the story’s plot?

4. What does Quick dream of when he is knocked unconscious in Chapter VI?

5. What does the shadow girl that Fish speaks with represent symbolically in Chapter VII?

6. What does the character of Lucy Wentworth represent symbolically in the story?

7. What is indicated symbolically by the letter from Ted Pickles in Chapter VIII?

8. How does the author address the concept of faith through Oriel and Lester in Chapter X?

9. How is Rose’s position in work and society described in the beginning of Chapter VIII?

10. What is represented symbolically by the naked children in the wheat in Chapter X?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the character of Wogga McBride and his role in the narrative of Cloudstreet. How does Quick Lamb first encounter Wogga McBride and his brother? How does Wogga die? How does his death affect Quick? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the history of Australia and its original inhabitants, the Aborigines, of the region. How have Aborigines in Australia been discriminated against historically? How has this changed in the past several decades? What rights did Aborigines have during the time period in which the novel is set?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the family history of Dolly Pickles in the novel. What secret does Dolly reveal to Rose about her mother? How has Dolly’s past influenced her actions in the story? Do you think that Dolly is an empathetic character? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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