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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 Paddy's da place the letter to Santa from Paddy and Sinbad?

2. Who does Paddy's da blame when the Clarke family's drain gets blocked once?

3. Which team is Paddy's favorite football/soccer team?

4. What type of car does Paddy's father buy?

5. What item does Paddy's father own that is in a red box?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Kevin's brother when he gets into big trouble?

2. Describe Paddy and Sinbad's relationship using examples from the text to support your answer.

3. Using details from the text, describe what happens when Paddy and Kevin enter the nurse's office to have their marks checked.

4. Where does the Clarke family go for Sinbad's Holy Communion and what happens when they are there?

5. When does Paddy's da usually teach Paddy new songs and what are some of the songs Paddy's father taught him?

6. Paddy and his friends became the Vigour Tribe for a day. What were some of the acts committed by the Vigour Tribe?

7. Using details from the text, describe how Paddy is stuck between being a child and becoming a teenager.

8. Describe Paddy's relationship with his two sisters, Catherine and Deirdre.

9. How does Paddy react when he is stung by a jellyfish?

10. Using details from the text, describe what it was like taking a family photo in the Clarke household.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Growing up, Paddy can often hear his parents fighting. At first the fights are few and far between, but as the novel progress the fights become more frequent and violent. Describe how Paddy tries to stop the fighting and why Paddy is conflicted by the fights.

Essay Topic 2

Once children start moving into the corporation houses, Paddy and his friends immediately hate them. Paddy begins to grow fond of Charles, however. How does Paddy begin to change once he starts hanging out with Charles more frequently?

Essay Topic 3

Using details and elements discussed in the class and in the text, describe how abuse was a central part of the plot. Is there only one abuser? How does abuse affect the relationships between the characters in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,050 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample