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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. When Eli met Maryanne's father, he had a "thin, vertiginous feeling." What kind of feeling was he having?

2. What is the first clue that Arm has died?

3. Why does the "Diamonds" narrator feed the stray cats at Saint Carmichael's?

4. What does Doran tell Eli about his life that Eli says he doubts is true?

5. Who does Dympna suspect told his uncles about what happened to Charlie?

Short Essay Questions

1. What can be inferred about how Maryanne died, and what evidence is there to support this inference?

2. What does the narrator do on the Monday after he meets Siobhán?

3. What does Arm think, in retrospect, about the events at the uncles' farm?

4. What does Arm believe is his parents' only real flaw, and why does he think they have this flaw?

5. How do Eli, Doran, and Maryanne know one another?

6. What motives for helping him does the narrator of "Diamonds" ascribe to his former principal?

7. Whom does the barman tell Doran he reminds him of?

8. Who are the two people that Arm calls when he reaches Ballintober, and why does he call them?

9. What happens when Arm goes back to the horse farm for a second time?

10. What does Paudi do to Dympna, and what is Arm's reaction?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the rhetorical function of the descriptive language used on pages 32-35 of "Bait"? Make and defend a claim about the significance of the diction and imagery used in this section; be sure to take into account what has already happened in the story, the action that occurs on pages 32-35, and the story's characterization of Teddy.

Essay Topic 2

What is the purpose of including an autistic character in "Calm With Horses"? What do the characters' reactions to Jack reveal about life in rural Ireland? What do the characters' reactions to Jack reveal about the characters themselves? Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about the purpose of including Jack's character in "Calm With Horses."

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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