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. The impression we get of the education system is that

2. Who clues Pennyfeather in about the bath schedule?

3. On Paul's first day with his little "mob," he is

4. What do Chokey and Mrs. Beste-Chetwynde seem to be trying to convince people of?

5. Upset that Grimes is already married, Dr. Fagan suggests

Short Essay Questions

1. As the folks at Llanabba recap the day's events, they lament what a series of unfortunate events took place. What was it, in particular, that Prendy argued about with Mr. Cholmondey regarding church architecture?

2. How is Prendergast's wig related to the "intractable" behavior of his students?

3. Philbrick has a great imagination. Of the three descriptions he has given of himself to Grimes, Prendy and Paul, which is the most likely to be true?

4. What message comes through about British society in the Prelude?

5. What do we learn about Digby-Vaine-Trumpington from the letter Potts has sent to Paul?

6. Prendergast seems doubtful about the presence of a new school master at Llanabba. How does that come through in their initial meeting?

7. Although other sports have been canceled due to floods, Dr. Fagan decides on the spur of the moment to hold a major, lavish sporting event at Llanabba because the sun has come out. For whose benefit is the event?

8. How is it that Paul loses the inheritance of his father's money?

9. What is the source of Mr. Prendergast's doubt?

10. The mysterious Philbrick speaks wistfully of his father, Chick. Discuss Chick.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the history of class struggle in Britain, beginning with the 1920s. Into what categories were the people divided, how did they interact, how were they rated by one another and what were the advantages and disadvantages of being members of any of them?

Essay Topic 2

Write a well-researched essay about the British educational system in the late 1920s, its flaws and any reforms that have taken place over the last decades. Has the system improved? Is it still a second-choice job to be a school master in England? How do England's test scores compare with other countries'?

Essay Topic 3

In this story, Waugh has young Peter Beste-Chetwynde not only mixing alcoholic drinks for adults, but indulging heavily himself at a very young age. Write an essay about the history of drinking in England. Was there ever a minimum age for drinking? Is there now? How does the rate of alcoholism in Britain compare to the U.S.?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,234 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample