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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. Where does Big Ed spend much of his time in the days after Eddie's death?

2. Who does Mr. Cruz think Dismas is?

3. Why is Army Distributing in trouble?

4. Why would Nika be interested in leaving Sam?

5. Who is Dismas' boss at the bar?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Abe Glitsky and how does he know Dismas?

2. What is the nature of Father Cavanaugh's relationship with Eddie Cochran's mother, Erin?

3. Who is Steven Cochran and how does Dismas try to befriend him?

4. What tragedy occurs when Dismas goes to the Giants game at Candlestick Park?

5. What does Dismas learn from Linda Polk about the troubles of Army Distributing?

6. Why does Frannie think that her pregnancy may have been a factor if Eddie did indeed commit suicide?

7. Who is Linda Polk and why does she speak to a man named Alphonse Page at Army Distributing, her father's company?

8. What does Dismas do after identifying Eddie Cochran's body?

9. What is Father Cavanaugh's relationship with the Cochran family?

10. What physical evidence does Dismas glean that proves to him that Eddie did not commit suicide?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Project into the future ten years and write a brief synopsis for the lives of Dismas, Jane, and the Cochrans. Be sure to include emotional states as well as physical characteristics, geographic locations, work, hobbies, and socialization.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the significance of the novel's title. What did the author mean by calling the book DEAD IRISH? Cite an example to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of disappointment. Identify at least two characters who either embody or experience disappointment then cite an example to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,199 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample