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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 had warned Stephen of the duplicity of the government and the committee previously?

2. How does Stephen avoid an accident with the truck?

3. What does Stephen ask Thelma if she has made any progress upon?

4. What does the driver of the truck want Stephen to do for him?

5. In what area does Stephen notice a girl at a school and demand that the chauffeur stop so he can get out?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the handbook excerpt say that it is acceptable to bribe children for good behavior?

2. Why does Stephen want to get out of the Prime Minister's car?

3. How does Stephen survive the crash with the truck?

4. How does Stephen work through his feelings about Julie and her leaving him?

5. What does Stephen realize after going to the school and not finding Kate?

6. How does the headmaster respond when Stephen tells his story about Kate?

7. How does Stephen spend Kate's birthday?

8. What happens when Stephen demands that the chauffeur stop the car?

9. How are Stephen's parents affected by the loss of Kate?

10. When the chauffeur arrives to pick up Stephen, how does he respond to Stephen's comments about the ragged car?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ian McEwan is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphors, and irony, briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

Essay Topic 2

Describe some of the settings for The Child In Time. What is the overall setting? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did McEwan choose to use these places in The Child In Time?

Essay Topic 3

The Child In Time is particularly effective in conveying meaning through powerful imagery. Powerful imagery to establish connections in the minds of readers with the story's characters and plot. Imagery is the picture we form in our minds of the story we read. It can involve, visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, kinetic, and kinesthetic. The author uses these imagery to translate words into a visual story that we can see and participate in within our minds. Describe the use of imagery in this dystopian novel.

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