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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. Where did the cause of the blight most likely come from?

2. Trevelyan decided that the Irish could be saved via which food?

3. How many acres were planted?

4. What word best describes the leaf of a potato plant?

5. During which month was the first crop harvested?

Short Essay Questions

1. How much time did the farmers spend working to pay the landlords?

2. Explain the physicians' advice to the sick and dying regarding disease.

3. How did merchants and moneylenders take advantage of the situation?

4. Describe the conditions on the ships sailing to America.

5. Who served as the head of the Treasury? What were the man's views on the famine?

6. New diseases began to plague the people. Describe the new illnesses and how they spread.

7. How did the media intervene in the Brits treatment of the Irish?

8. What was the church's opinion on stealing food?

9. Explain the basics of the population in Ireland and how they lived.

10. The author states that the potato famine had little to do with the shortage of food. What was the real issue? The real issue was that people were being denied access to available food, through the stubbornness of the British to import corn and the skyrocketing prices and almost non-existent wages being paid to laborers. After the majority of the crops were destroyed, Prime Minister Russell finally decided to take action. What was the action?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author notes that the Irish were by no means rich even before the famine hit. Explain how the Irish lived before the famine. Include religion, education, and social activities as well as work. Also list what a common meal might consist of at a typical Irish dinner table.

Essay Topic 2

In addition to starvation, many of the Irish were contaminated and contracted various other diseases and ailments. List the diseases and ailments, what they are, the symptoms and cures (if any).

Essay Topic 3

The British became embarrassed by the number of juvenile inmates being deported from Ireland. Explain why there were so many juvenile inmates. What were their crimes? Were the sentences imposed upon the youths too harsh or not harsh enough?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 705 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample