View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the woman that strikes fear into the hearts of all the probationary nurses and staff?

2. Who calls for Briony to help her?

3. Who gathers the produce for the cold salad in order to compromise between Betty's and Emily's ideas for dinner?

4. Who is glaring at Robbie as the dinner meal is beginning?

5. Emily believes ______ will leave, just as _______ did. This causes Emily to feel self-pity for these lost people in her life.

Short Essay Questions

1. What has happened to Lola, according to Briony?

2. Why is Briony the one who is left with the adults to tell the story?

3. What does Robbie have to say about the letter that he wrote to Cecilia?

4. What does Briony think Cecilia is telling Leon when Briony sees them walking together a distance away?

5. What does Leon have to say about England in hot weather?

6. What does Briony picture has happened to the twins?

7. Who interrupts Briony as she is trying to write a new story?

8. What is the explanation for the disembodied human leg that Briony thinks she sees?

9. What is Lola's response to the letter that Robbie has written for Cecilia, as told to her by Briony?

10. What has been haunting Emily lately?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of imagination is one that plays out throughout this story. Many characters have dreams, while others take everyday events and turn them into fantastic stories.

Part 1: Does the introduction of imagination cause this story to be believable? In other words, can the reader trust everything he/she reads?

Part 2: Does imagination seem to create positive results or negative results? Or both?

Part 3: Describe one scene in which imagination plays a central role. What is the outcome of this situation?

Essay Topic 2

Lola is the sister that does not necessarily seem that important to the story at first, but her role develops as the pages turn.

Part 1: Describe the character of Lola. What are some of the characteristics that set her apart from the others?

Part 2: What happens to Lola in the pivotal scene of violence?

Part 3: Why do you think Lola goes along with Briony's lie? Why does she not refute it?

Essay Topic 3

The letter from Robbie to Cecilia sets off a chain of events in many respects. The importance of this letter cannot be denied.

Part 1: Why does Robbie write this letter in the first place? What is he trying to achieve?

Part 2: Why does Robbie decide to write another letter that is less crude? Why would he have been so crude in the first place?

Part 3: Why is Cecilia not bothered by the crudeness of the letter she does receive? What does this say about her?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 700 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample