Blood Brothers (AQA GCSE English Literature): Exam Questions

Exam code: 8702

8 hours130 questions
1
1 mark

What does the Narrator’s prologue at the beginning of the play foreshadow about the fate of the Johnstone twins?

  • The twins will have a tragic ending.

  • The twins will grow up together and live happy lives.

  • The twins will be separated at birth but later reunite successfully.

  • The twins will never find out they are related.

2
1 mark

How does Mrs Johnstone's financial situation influence her decision to give up one of her twins?

  • She is paid to give up one of her twins.

  • She dislikes the idea of having twins and prefers to raise only one child.

  • She feels pressured by Mrs Lyons, who threatens her with legal action.

  • She is struggling to support both children.

3
1 mark

Why does Mrs Lyons move her family to the country in Blood Brothers?

  • She is running away from legal problems in the city.

  • She dislikes the city and wants a more peaceful life in the countryside.

  • She wants to keep Edward away from Mickey and the influence of Mrs Johnstone.

  • She believes Edward needs a change of environment for his education.

4
1 mark

What is the significance of the locket Mrs Johnstone gives to Edward?

  • It signifies Mrs Lyons’ influence over Edward.

  • It represents Mrs Johnstone’s desire to control Edward’s future.

  • It is a keepsake meant to distance Edward from his birth family.

  • It symbolises the hidden connection between Edward and Mickey.

5
1 mark

Why does Mickey confront Edward at the council offices with a gun?

  • Mickey believes Edward is responsible for his financial difficulties.

  • Mickey is driven by jealousy and rage after learning about Linda’s affair with Edward.

  • Mickey wants to force Edward to confess to their mother about their twin connection.

  • Mickey is seeking revenge for losing his job at the factory.

6
1 mark

How does Mickey’s involvement in the robbery with Sammy affect his life?

  • It allows him to escape his financial troubles and build a better life.

  • It leads to his arrest, contributing to his mental deterioration and eventual tragic end.

  • It helps him gain respect and leadership within his community.

  • It has no significant impact on his life or the lives of those around him.

7
1 mark

How does the class difference between Mickey and Edward impact their lives as they grow older?

  • It creates tension and ultimately leads to their tragic downfall.

  • It strengthens their friendship and helps them understand each other better.

  • It has no impact on their relationship as adults.

  • It ensures that Edward has a more successful life, while Mickey remains content with his own.

8
1 mark

What is the significance of Mickey's declining mental health after losing his job?

  • It is due to Edward’s betrayal and the class divide between them.

  • It demonstrates the damaging effects of poverty and lack of opportunity.

  • It shows his inability to cope with Linda’s pregnancy.

  • It represents his guilt over helping Sammy with the robbery.

1
1 mark

How does Mrs Johnstone's decision to give away one of her twins illustrate her struggle with poverty?

  • She is forced to do so by the welfare agency.

  • She believes it is the only way to give one of her children a better life.

  • She is manipulated into it by Mrs. Lyons' wealth and status.

  • She does not want the responsibility of raising two children.

2
1 mark

What does the growing divide between Mickey and Edward as they reach adulthood represent?

  • Mrs Johnstone's failure to keep them together.

  • Their personal differences and lack of shared interests.

  • The inevitable impact of social class on relationships.

  • Edward’s desire to leave behind his working-class roots

3
1 mark

How does Mrs Lyons' manipulation of Mrs Johnstone reflect the theme of ambition in Blood Brothers?

  • It shows how Mrs Lyons' ambition to have a child leads her to act selfishly.

  • It shows that Mrs Johnstone is too weak to resist.

  • It represents Mrs Lyons' desire to improve her own life at any cost.

  • It highlights the contrast between the two women's lives.

4
1 mark

What does Mrs Johnstone's decision to give away one of her twins suggest about her views on ambition?

  • She believes that Edward will have a better life with the Lyons family, showing she has given up hope of offering him a prosperous future.

  • She gives Edward away to relieve herself of the financial and physical burden of raising two children in impoverished circumstances.

  • She sees no difference between the lives Edward and Mickey will lead, showing she lacks ambition for her children.

  • She feels confident that she can provide an equally good life for Mickey, demonstrating ambition for both her children.

5
1 mark

How does Linda’s involvement with Edward suggest an alternative path for her ambition compared to Mickey?

  • Linda pursues Edward out of loyalty to Mickey, hoping that Edward might improve their lives together.

  • Linda’s relationship with Edward shows her desire for stability, something Mickey can no longer offer.

  • Linda becomes romantically involved with Edward because she no longer has ambition for her future.

  • Linda’s relationship with Edward is driven by her desire to ruin his toxic friendship with Mickey.

6
1 mark

How might Mrs Lyons' use of superstition to manipulate Mrs Johnstone reflect her own ambitions?

  • Mrs Lyons does not care about superstition, but uses it to threaten Mrs Johnstone out of jealousy.

  • Mrs Lyons is genuinely afraid of superstition and believes it will protect Edward from Mickey.

  • Mrs Lyons uses superstition to make peace with Mrs Johnstone and maintain their friendship.

  • Mrs Lyons uses superstition to separate the twins, ensuring that she has control over Edward.

7
1 mark

Suggest why Edward’s privileged upbringing shapes his ambition differently from Mickey’s.

  • Edward’s ambition is focused on pleasing Mrs Lyons, whereas Mickey’s ambition is driven by his desire for wealth.

  • Edward’s prospects are limited by his wealthy upbringing, whereas Mickey’s working-class background drives his ambition.

  • Both Edward and Mickey share the same level of ambition, but only Mickey is able to achieve his goals through hard work.

  • Edward’s access to education and resources fosters his ambition to succeed, while Mickey is held back by his working-class circumstances.