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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 the first thing Jim's mother does when Jim returns home?

2. What does the author say Colin's legs are like as he tries to escape with Bert?

3. What does the narrator say he once saw a man do to himself?

4. What does the narrator's father suggest the narrator does to cheer himself up?

5. What is the name of Colin's cousin?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Jim's mother react to him telling her he is getting married?

2. How does the narrator describe Jim's mother?

3. Why is Lennox upset with his children?

4. Why does the narrator think his father would never kill himself?

5. Why is the man's suicide attempt unsuccessful?

6. Why do Lennox's workmates tease him?

7. What efforts do Bert and Colin make to get more money?

8. What is Bert's plan to cheat at the penny game?

9. What does the narrator say about his families' black looks?

10. Why is Jim arrested?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the author's writing style. How would you describe the author's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? What meaning does the author's style give to the book?

Essay Topic 2

What do the stories say about life in northern England in pre-war Britain? How does northern England differ from southern England? What conflicts are there between the two areas and why?

Essay Topic 3

What was the role of mothers and fathers during the time periods represented in the book? How and why is the father shown in such a negative light?

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