- 1. Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe is a compelling and deeply researched narrative that delves into the complexities of the Northern Ireland conflict, particularly focusing on the story of the Disappeared, the individuals who were kidnapped and murdered during the Troubles and whose bodies were never found. Keefe meticulously examines the lives of those involved, both victims and perpetrators, weaving a tapestry that captures the human cost of political violence and the haunting legacies that remain long after the guns have fallen silent. Through the lens of individual stories, Keefe sheds light on the broader socio-political landscape, exploring themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the painful memories that continue to shape the identities of those affected. His journalistic rigor and narrative flair offer readers a gripping account that is as informative as it is poignant, making 'Say Nothing' not just a historical exploration, but a profound meditation on the nature of memory, reconciliation, and the search for truth in the aftermath of chaos.
What is the primary focus of 'Say Nothing' by Patrick Radden Keefe?
A) The Cuban Revolution
B) The Vietnam War
C) The Troubles in Northern Ireland
D) World War II espionage
- 2. Which real-life disappearance is a central event investigated in the book?
A) Jean McConville
B) Jimmy Hoffa
C) Amelia Earhart
D) Lord Lucan
- 3. Which paramilitary organization is most prominently featured?
A) The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA)
B) The Red Hand Commando
C) The Provisional IRA
D) The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
- 4. What was the codename for the British Army's undercover unit in Northern Ireland?
A) MI5 Operatives
B) Special Air Service (SAS)
C) The Military Reaction Force (MRF)
D) The Black Watch
- 5. Who is the prominent IRA member and later informant known by the pseudonym 'Stakeknife'?
A) Freddie Scappaticci
B) Gerry Adams
C) Brendan Hughes
D) Dolours Price
- 6. The book's title, 'Say Nothing', is a reference to what?
A) A poem by Seamus Heaney
B) An IRA code of silence
C) The motto of a Belfast prison
D) A British interrogation technique
- 7. Which university project provided crucial oral histories for the book?
A) The Belfast Project
B) The Trinity College Archives
C) The Oxford History Project
D) The Cambridge Oral History Initiative
- 8. What was the primary reason Jean McConville was abducted?
A) She refused to pay protection money
B) She was a British soldier's wife
C) She witnessed a bank robbery
D) She was accused of being an informant
- 9. Which IRA volunteer gave extensive interviews about the McConville disappearance before her death?
A) Mairead Farrell
B) Marian Price
C) Bernadette Devlin McAliskey
D) Dolours Price
- 10. Where were the remains of Jean McConville eventually discovered?
A) In the mountains of County Down
B) In a bog in County Armagh
C) Beneath a Belfast housing estate
D) On a beach in County Louth
- 11. Which prominent political figure is repeatedly alleged in the book to have been in the IRA?
A) David Trimble
B) Gerry Adams
C) John Hume
D) Ian Paisley
- 12. Which event is considered a major turning point that intensified the conflict?
A) The Brighton hotel bombing
B) The signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty
C) The Easter Rising
D) Bloody Sunday
- 13. What was the primary role of Brendan Hughes in the IRA?
A) Chief bomb-maker
B) IRA commander in Belfast
C) Public spokesperson
D) Negotiator with the British
- 14. What was the fate of many of the 'disappeared'?
A) They were publicly tried
B) They were imprisoned for life
C) They were secretly buried
D) They were exiled to England
- 15. Which institution fought a legal battle to keep the Belfast Project interviews secret?
A) Boston College
B) The National Archives of the UK
C) Harvard University
D) Queen's University Belfast
- 16. What was the public role of Gerry Adams during the Troubles?
A) IRA Chief of Staff
B) British Member of Parliament
C) Irish Taoiseach
D) Sinn Féin president
- 17. What was the ironic fate of many IRA members who targeted informants?
A) They became successful politicians
B) They were often informants themselves
C) They retired peacefully
D) They were awarded medals by the UK
- 18. What is a major theme explored through the McConville family's story?
A) The long-term trauma of the conflict
B) The economic prosperity of Belfast
C) The benefits of British rule
D) The ease of post-conflict reconciliation
- 19. What legal concept was challenged by the subpoena of the Belfast Project tapes?
A) Diplomatic immunity
B) The right to a fair trial
C) Freedom of the press
D) Academic confidentiality
- 20. How does Keefe portray the morality of the conflict?
A) As a clear fight of good vs. evil
B) As a justified war for independence
C) As an illegal terrorist campaign
D) As complex and morally ambiguous
- 21. The book heavily features interviews with which former IRA member, known as 'The Dark'?
A) Bobby Sands
B) Brendan Hughes
C) Martin McGuinness
D) Gerry Adams
- 22. Dolours and Marian Price were known for their involvement in what infamous 1973 event?
A) The Old Bailey bombing
B) The kidnapping of Jean McConville
C) The Bloody Sunday march
D) The Brighton hotel bombing
- 23. What was the nickname for the British policy of imprisoning suspects without trial?
A) The Culling
B) The Purge
C) Internment
D) The Suspension
- 24. In which decade did the events that open the book primarily take place?
A) 1990s
B) 1980s
C) 1960s
D) 1970s
- 25. Dolours and Marian Price were initially convicted for a bombing in which city?
A) Manchester
B) Dublin
C) London
D) Belfast
- 26. How did Dolours Price protest her imprisonment?
A) Escaping from prison
B) Hunger strike
C) Rioting
D) A writing campaign
- 27. What was the nickname for the IRA's internal security unit?
A) The Enforcers
B) The Nutting Squad
C) The Belfast Brigade
D) The Ghost Squad
- 28. On what date was 'Bloody Sunday', a major event discussed in the book?
A) August 15, 1971
B) July 12, 1969
C) January 30, 1972
D) Easter Monday, 1916
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