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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. Who does Eileen say can afford to be careless?

2. What does the girl in the shed eventually say she was doing there?

3. What does Furlong worry is actually bothering Kathleen in Chapter 5?

4. Where is Ned when Furlong tries to find him?

5. What does Furlong do before he visits the convent with the order in Chapter 5?

Short Essay Questions

1. What name does Sarah Redmond say she goes by in the convent?

2. Who does Furlong begin to think might be his father?

3. Why does Eileen not want Furlong to do anything about what he saw at the laundry?

4. What does the Mother Superior give to Furlong for Christmas?

5. Who does Furlong go to visit the same day he makes the delivery at the convent?

6. What does Mother Superior say about the sailors that makes Furlong mad?

7. What does Eileen emphasize to Furlong about the girl he saw at the laundry?

8. What does Eileen say about Furlong when he tells her about his visit to the laundry in Part III?

9. Why does Eileen say the nuns are "very good"?

10. What does Ned tell Furlong he feels guilty about from the past?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Once Furlong is fairly sure Ned is his father, what are his reflections on the man and on his own upbringing? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does emigration effect Irish culture in 1985, the time period when Keegan sets the book? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

What is the legend about the Barrow River, and why do you think Keegan includes it at the point in the story that she does? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 524 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample