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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 name of the eldest member of the "Diamonds" narrator's AA group?

2. How did the "Diamonds" narrator's cat die?

3. What makes Eli realize that he has been overreacting to the idea of going to Maryanne's funeral?

4. Besides teaching gym classes part time, what other job does the "Diamonds" narrator hold at Saint Carmichael's?

5. How did the knees of Eli's suit get stained?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the barman discover has been left behind after Doran and Eli leave, and what does he do with it?

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

3. What is Hector and Paudi's response to the situation with Fannigan?

4. What is Dympna's intention in bringing Arm inside the house at the farm, and how does Paudi react?

5. How did Arm and Dympna meet?

6. Who is Siobhán Maher, and how does she recognize the narrator of "Diamonds"?

7. What is the narrator's current job, and why, in "Diamonds"?

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

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

10. Who is Mellick, and what story does he tell at AA meetings?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Young Skins features many characters who are lonely, but it also depicts characters who have made meaningful human connections. Write an essay that evaluates the loneliness of at least three characters and contrasts this with the situation of characters who do seem to have meaningful connections with others. Your essay should also make a claim about whether the anthology suggests that a romantic relationship, family, or a platonic friendship offers the most viable path to human connection.

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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