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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. What is Derek's economic status?

2. Who tries to lighten the conversation in the pool hall when someone gets upset?

3. What disease does Jack fear he has?

4. What does Derek initially think is the cause of the smell in Jack's house?

5. How much did the item cost that Tom is wearing as Sue and Julie laugh?

Short Essay Questions

1. What conversation does Jack have with Tom after being awakened by Tom's fake crying?

2. Why do Sue and Julie dress up Tom like a girl?

3. Discuss the conversation Derek strikes up at the pool hall when he starts playing.

4. What sense does Jack experience after his mother's death? What does he say is lacking from that sense?

5. Describe Jack's recurring nightmare.

6. Why doesn't Jack tell Julie about his conversations with Derek as soon as he returns home from the pool hall?

7. Three weeks after Mother's death, how does Sue spend her time?

8. What do the girls say about Jack and Tom's appearances when they are dressing Tom like a girl?

9. Three weeks after Mother's death, Jack goes into the cellar to see the trunk. What are his thoughts as he visits the cellar?

10. Explain the incident involving a frog in the garden.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define motif. Identify and discuss two motifs from The Cement Garden.

Essay Topic 2

Identify and discuss three points of foreshadowing from the novel. Did the author use foreshadowing effectively? Why or why not? Define foreshadowing in your essay as well. What role does foreshadowing play in literature?

Essay Topic 3

What is a flashback? Identify and discuss one example of flashback from this novel. How does the author signify that it is a flashback? How does the author demonstrate that the flashback ends?

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