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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. An army chaplain comes to the school to talk to the boys about what?

2. The boy's mother's depression causes her to do what?

3. What does the boy write down in the exercise book?

4. What does the boy think happened to Eddie in the secret passage of Grianan?

5. What is Claire's last expression?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the boy believe about his loyalties to his parents as he sets off to college?

2. What is important about the boy's reading of the story of Eddie's death in Irish?

3. How does his mother's inability to speak because of her stroke affect her relationship with the boy?

4. In what ways are the problems of Northern Ireland just beginning as the problems the boy faces are now ending?

5. Why doesn't the boy reveal to his parents what he knows of Eddie's death?

6. What does Sergeant Burke reveal about Eddie's death and Tony's involvement?

7. Why does Sergeant Burke say he beat up Frank and why does he apologize for it?

8. What scripture passages does the boy enjoy reading, but why do they trouble him?

9. Who is Danno Bredin?

10. What is Sergeant Burke's purpose for going to the boy's mother and revealing all that he knows of Eddie's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of secrets within the text. What kind of impact does secret-keeping have on the characters of the novel? How does it affect the plot as it progresses? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Good vs. evil is an important theme in the novel. Show how three characters made the wrong decision in regards to Eddie's death and explain what they should have done differently.

Essay Topic 3

Which characters in the novel would be considered guides for the boy narrator? What do they teach him? Are they positive or negative mentors?

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