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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. "His enemy had been hit" (98) is an example of what technique?
(a) Honorific diction.
(b) Parallelism.
(c) Passive voice.
(d) Charged language.

2. Why does the sniper not immediately fire on the enemy car?
(a) There is a civilian in his line of fire.
(b) He is not sure which side the car belongs to, at first.
(c) He does not want to give away his position.
(d) He does not have a weapon that will penetrate its armor.

3. The conflicting descriptions of the sniper that make him sound both young and mature are an example of what technique?
(a) Paradox.
(b) Oxymoron.
(c) Allusion.
(d) Personification.

4. When the sniper turns over the body of his enemy, whom does he discover it to be?
(a) His priest.
(b) His own brother.
(c) His commander.
(d) A total stranger.

5. What finally changes the way that the sniper is feeling?
(a) The sounds of the battle beginning to fade.
(b) The death of the turret gunner.
(c) The death of the enemy sniper.
(d) Being shot.

6. At the end of the story, the reader learns that the story has been taking place on the corner of what street?
(a) Lifford.
(b) Christchurch.
(c) Donnybrook.
(d) O'Connell.

7. Why does the enemy sniper stand up and expose his position?
(a) He believes the protagonist to be dead.
(b) He believes that the protagonist will honor the white flag.
(c) He is startled by shooting in the street.
(d) He is ready to give up.

8. What causes the sniper to calm himself and get back to his job?
(a) He realizes that he needs medical attention.
(b) He remembers the cause he is fighting for.
(c) He sees that the sun is nearly up.
(d) He is nearly hit by his own bullet.

9. Toward the end of the story, the sniper feels "remorse" (98). What is he feeling?
(a) Confusion.
(b) Boredom.
(c) Fury.
(d) Regret.

10. What is the only description given of the old woman?
(a) She walks very slowly.
(b) She has a thin smile.
(c) Her head is covered in an old shawl.
(d) Her dress looks like it is brand new.

11. How does the sniper get off of the rooftop?
(a) By jumping to a lower building.
(b) Via a set of fire stairs.
(c) By the ladder he has with him.
(d) Through a skylight.

12. The name of the street gives the reader what important piece of information?
(a) That the sniper has mistakenly positioned himself in enemy territory.
(b) How close the sniper is to the heart of the battle.
(c) That the sniper has been assigned to a pointless task.
(d) How close the sniper is to his own home.

13. What does the sniper do when he realizes that his enemy is dead?
(a) Cries out joyfully.
(b) Calmly begins packing his things up.
(c) Drops to his knees.
(d) Vomits.

14. As a result of taking a risk in order to see his dead enemy's body, what happens to the sniper?
(a) He sets off a bomb.
(b) He has to kill another civilian.
(c) He is shot at.
(d) Nothing: he gets away with it.

15. The sniper takes a "draught" (96) of his drink. What is a "draught" in this context?
(a) A small sip.
(b) A deep sniff.
(c) A British measure.
(d) A large swallow.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who wrote "The Sniper"?

2. What word (or a variation of it) is repeated several times after the sniper is shot?

3. The description of the car "panting" (96) suggests what about the situation?

4. At what time of day does the story begin?

5. What do the Republicans want?

(see the answer keys)

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