A Year in the Maine Woods Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard

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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. In "November 8-9 Jack?" the author observes a group of ravens that he has done what for?

2. The author has another run on "September 18" - this time running a length of __________ miles.

3. How does the author think the clearing will look in the end, even though his style of harvesting trees could be considered sloppy?

4. What is "September 27 Starting a Sugar Shack" about?

5. The author and his son plant a ______ oak near the cabin.

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the author's sense of smell important to him?

2. What does the author do in "Election Time?" How does this reveal his feelings regarding elections?

3. What is the purpose of "Beginnings"?

4. How does Jack act like other ravens? How does the author predict this?

5. Describe "October 1 The Foliage." How is "October 1 The Foliage" an important chapter?

6. What do the author and his son do together in "Early September"? What does this reveal about them?

7. Describe the author's first morning in the cabin. What can be predicted regarding his stay in this cabin based on this information?

8. What takes place in "August 14 Whispers of Fall"?

9. What does the author notice about the wasp and caterpillars?

10. What takes place in "September 27 Starting a Sugar Shack"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author has developed a keen sense of only noticing the unique and new.

Part 1) Use details from the book to prove this statement to be true. How has he come to have this keen sense? How is he now like Jack? is he also like other wild animals? Why or why not? Are you surprised that he has grown to be more like the animals around him? Why or why not?

Part 2) What does this change in the author's senses reveal about the influence of one's environment? How much has the author been influenced by his environment? Explain.

Part 3) Can this change in one's senses take place in the civilized, modern world? If so, how? If not, why not?

Essay Topic 2

The author captures a raven and names him Jack.

Part 1) How does he go about catching the raven? Why does he capture Jack? Describe the author's experiences with Jack. What is learned about the author through his relationship with Jack?

Part 2) How does the author change because of Jack? What does he learn from Jack? How do ravens become a significant aspect of this book? Why?

Part 3) How is the author's relationship with all animals a significant part of this book? What does this reveal about the author?

Essay Topic 3

Fishing is often discussed in this book.

Part 1) Describe the author's fishing expeditions. Why does he go fishing? How is fishing important in this book? What other activities pertaining to his relationship with nature are also important? Why?

Part 2) What else is also discussed a great deal in this book? Why? How is this important to the author and to this book?

Part 3) What activities in your own life are of importance? Why? How do these activities compare to those of the author?

(see the answer keys)

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