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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 tells Tansey to "be nice" (30)?

2. What causes Bat to feel so nauseous that he rushes to the bathroom, thinking he will throw up?

3. What draws Jimmy's attention to Marlene's engagement ring?

4. The word "oyster" to describe Matteen's paleness is likely chosen for what connotation?

5. What do Tain, Heg, and Bat do on their break?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is "Father Time"?

2. Describe the main character of "Stand Your Skin."

3. Why does Bat think that something inappropriate has happened between Heg and Tain?

4. Describe Bat's relationship with his mother in "Stand Your Skin."

5. What happens when the four underage girls arrive at the club on the night the story opens?

6. What happened to Bat at Monroe's takeaway?

7. What are the two other names that Tug is known by, and how did he get them?

8. What is the relationship between Jimmy and Marlene?

9. What in Tug's interaction with the children at the bridge demonstrates the softer side of his nature?

10. How does Val know Martina Boran, and how has their relationship changed since he met her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the real fascination that Tug has with the missing Clancy child? Write an essay in which you make and defend a claim about the symbolic significance of this missing child. Use textual evidence to defend your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

The first five pieces in the anthology center on characters who have chosen to stay in Glanbeigh. The Last two focus on characters who have chosen to leave, but who end up coming home, at least temporarily, when they run into trouble in the wider world. Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about the thematic idea being advanced by this structure. Use evidence from at least two stories in the first section of the book and evidence from both of the stories in the latter section as you defend your claim.

Essay Topic 3

Why are there so few functional romantic relationships in Young Skins? Is this a comment on the environment of Glanbeigh, a comment on Irish culture, or a comment on life in general? Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about the significance of the anthology's dearth of rewarding romantic relationships. Use textual evidence from throughout the anthology in defense of your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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