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. Who is Ricky's new girlfriend?

2. What does Mr. Brocklehurst call Val?

3. What is the name of the woman who calls Val in Part IV?

4. What illness does Claude suffer from?

5. Who are Vern's daughters?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Marsha change Ben's life?

2. In Part III, what does Jo want from Ricky?

3. What problem does Val's husband Claude struggle with?

4. What does Alec end up doing after he loses his job as a typesetter?

5. What is Val's life like with Mike in Part III?

6. What idea does Vern get after visiting Alec?

7. What does Val do when she gets out of prison to try to help others?

8. What feeling comes over Vern at the opera festival that he cannot quite place?

9. In Part IV, what does Vern get to do as a result of his wealth that he has always wanted to do?

10. What does the old drunk man at the market say to Mike and the other Neo-Nazis?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Spufford use the character of Mike to explore some aspects of racism and racist attitudes in postwar Britain? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Of the five main characters - Val, Jo, Vern, Alec, and Ben - which one do you think experiences the most significant growth or change over the course of his or her life? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Why does Jo eventually move back to London, and how does her move change the course of her life? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 607 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample