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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The name of the street gives the reader what important piece of information?
(a) How close the sniper is to the heart of the battle.
(b) How close the sniper is to his own home.
(c) That the sniper has been assigned to a pointless task.
(d) That the sniper has mistakenly positioned himself in enemy territory.

2. Why is the sniper eating?
(a) Another soldier has just brought him food.
(b) He has been too busy until now.
(c) He was too excited to eat earlier.
(d) He just remembered that he should.

3. Why does the protagonist expose his hand by draping it over the parapet?
(a) He needs to risk it in order to get his gun.
(b) To show a white flag.
(c) He is unaware that he has done so.
(d) To make it look like he has been shot.

4. What is the first physical sensation the sniper feels in the place where he has been shot?
(a) A sharp shock.
(b) Overwhelming pain.
(c) Warmth.
(d) Numbness, or absence.

5. What does the sniper take a risk to do after he finishes eating?
(a) Smoke.
(b) Reload his gun.
(c) Talk to another soldier.
(d) Sleep.

6. Why does the sniper decide that it is safe to move from the rooftop?
(a) The streets immediately around him are quiet.
(b) The battle seems to be over.
(c) He is very drunk.
(d) The enemy sniper was the only serious danger to him.

7. What nearby area of the city is under heavy fire?
(a) Donnybrook
(b) Christchurch.
(c) Drumcondra
(d) The Four Courts.

8. In order to fool his enemy, what does the sniper lift over the parapet?
(a) His jacket.
(b) His hat.
(c) His head.
(d) His rifle.

9. What complicates the sniper's final shot?
(a) The glare and noise.
(b) The distance and his pain.
(c) His hunger and fatigue.
(d) His confusion and fear.

10. What do the Free Staters want?
(a) A united Ireland under British rule.
(b) A divided Ireland, one part ruled by Ireland, one part ruled by Britain.
(c) A united Ireland under joint rule between the British and the Irish.
(d) A united Ireland under Irish rule.

11. What does the sniper do when he realizes that his enemy is dead?
(a) Vomits.
(b) Calmly begins packing his things up.
(c) Drops to his knees.
(d) Cries out joyfully.

12. The conflicting descriptions of the sniper that make him sound both young and mature are an example of what technique?
(a) Allusion.
(b) Paradox.
(c) Personification.
(d) Oxymoron.

13. What river is near the sniper's position?
(a) The Corrib.
(b) The Liffey.
(c) The Thames.
(d) The Shannon.

14. The sniper's face is described as "ascetic" (96). What does this imply about the sniper?
(a) He is able to discipline himself and sacrifice for his beliefs.
(b) He does not have the same ability to empathize as most people do.
(c) He is not fully aware of the damage that the war will do.
(d) He has conflicting emotions about the act of killing.

15. After he calms down, what does the sniper decide to do next?
(a) Rest for a few minutes before he tries to move.
(b) Get off the rooftop and check on the identity of his enemy.
(c) Get off the rooftop and report to his commander.
(d) Bandage his wound more carefully before he tries to move.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the sniper do when he realizes that the old woman is an informant?

2. What is the sniper eating?

3. What bridge is near the sniper's position?

4. How does the reader know the sniper's age?

5. What temporarily interferes with his vision and stops the sniper from seeing the results of his shot?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 618 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample