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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 Ish find when he arrives home after his trip to the east coast?

2. On his way back to the city, Ish breaks into a fine home. What does he do while he is there?

3. Why does Ish think the books in the library are important?

4. In Year Five, the people create a "national pastime" out of avoiding 
what type of animal?

5. While driving home from Black Creek, what does Ish see on the side of the road?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is one good reason why the Tribe should merge with the other tribe?

2. What law does Ish believe needs to be in effect the next time any new people arrive in their area? Why?

3. Why does Ish worry so much about Evie's state?

4. What is notable about how Ish acts on his trip home?

5. Why does Jack think that some of the arrowhead materials are better than others?

6. Is Ish a good leader for the Tribe? Why or why not?

7. What trick do the children play every year at New Years?

8. Jack tells Ish about how they have found great quantities of a certain object, all of which have different pictures. Can you name one of the people in the pictures?

9. What is the author trying to illustrate when he shows how the young men treat Ish if he doesn't answer questions?

10. What was the significance of Ish taking the hammer with him to meet Charlie instead of another weapon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the book, there are particular characters that Ish becomes much more attached to than others. For instance, Em, Princess, and Joey seem to be the most important to Ish, though he has many more children, and at one point, another wife. Why were these characters more important to Ish than the others? What could each character possibly symbolize?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the book, Ish is determined just to be the observer, someone who watches what becomes of civilization. How do you think this attitude affects the way things develop and his life in general? Do you think that he stays true to this decision throughout the entire story? Why or why not? Please supply evidence from the book for you answer.

Essay Topic 3

In the first six chapters of the book, Ish notices that there are certain animals that cannot live without man, while there are others who seem to adapt after awhile. The author makes several comments about these animals throughout the remainder of the book. Do you think that the author is really, in a sense, talking about mankind? If so, what is he saying? If not, what point do you think the author is trying to emphasize?

(see the answer keys)

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