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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. What do the other fishermen do after turning their canoes around?

2. Why does Mafatu decide to do this?

3. Why does Mafatu's mother take him out to the barrier reef?

4. What does Kivi do after flying overhead?

5. The next day shows what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mafatu realize that causes him to be gripped by terror? How does he react?

2. What does Mafatu resolve to do this year?

3. What improves his mood?

4. What does Mafatu think about his father?

5. How does Mafatu and his mother end up in danger?

6. What happens after Mafatu and his mother are washed ashore?

7. What happens that foreshadows a larger storm?

8. What is Mafatu's most significant shame?

9. What has happened when Mafatu has attempted to overcome his fear?

10. What has resulted because of Mafatu's fear?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mafatu resolves to overcome his fears.

Part 1) How does his resolve show maturity? How does his resolve also show a childlike dependency?

Part 2) Does he overcome his fears? If so, how? If not, why not?

Part 3) What fears have you overcome? Compare and contrast your experience with that of Mafatu.

Essay Topic 2

Mafatu goes through great change during his first day on the island.

Part 1) Describe this change. Why does this change occur?

Part 2) How does it affect the decisions he later makes?

Part 3) Predict how this change will affect him when he returns home.

Essay Topic 3

After arriving on the island, Mafatu finds a spearhead.

Part 1) Why does he take it? How is taking the spearhead a victory?

Part 2) What does the spearhead symbolize?

Part 3) To what does this victory lead? How does this one event change his life forever?

Part 4) Describe an event that had a large impact on your life.

(see the answer keys)

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