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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 does Iza use for a medicine bag?

2. Why does Creb have an ideal location in the cave?

3. Where does Ayla begin hiding her sling as she learns to hunt?

4. What ceremony does Brun hope to include in the cave ceremony celebration?

5. What does Grod bring to help with the examination of the cave?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Creb's unique ability?

2. How is Creb convinced that Ayla belongs with the clan now?

3. Why does Ayla become the center of attention after the first female sturgeon is caught?

4. Why is the clan traveling?

5. What does Broud envision about the combined cave ceremony and his manhood ceremony?

6. What does the girl do during the earthquake?

7. What besides grief makes Ayla suffer?

8. How does Ayla finally begin to understand the clan language?

9. What leads the clan to find the girl?

10. How does Ayla act towards Broud after she returns?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the differences between Ayla and the clan is her ability to conceive new innovations.

Part 1) What are some of the innovations that Ayla thinks of during the novel?

Part 2) What are the implications of these innovations? Do they influence the plot? How?

Part 3) How do Ayla's new ideas help her to survive? How do they threaten her survival in the strict structure and culture of the clan?

Essay Topic 2

The Clan lacks the capacity to foresee consequences. If Brun could have perfect information about the future of the strange child he decides to let Iza adopt, what might he do differently? Write an essay describing how he might handle (1) her lack of submission to Broud, (2) her desire to hunt, and (3) her ability to learn healing from Iza. What might he do to prepare himself and the clan for these differences? If he decided to abandon her because she was too different, would the clan suffer from losing her? What do they gain by having her as part of the clan?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay exploring Broud's character.

Part 1) Identify three characteristics that define Broud's character. Use examples from the text to illustrate these characteristics.

Part 2) How does Broud attempt to control Ayla?

Part 3) What are the effects of Broud's failure to control Ayla?

(see the answer keys)

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