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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. Who helps Whittington train his children in the autumn?

2. Whose life does the book Sir Louis wants Dick to read recount?

3. How does the auctioneer at the livestock auction speak?

4. Who saves the kittens trapped by the cord?

5. How does Marion feel about picking up the registered letter?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Dick Whittington spend his fortune on in his last years?

2. What effect do the bells have on Dick as he heads down the river to try to see Mary?

3. What trip does Whittington say he must take?

4. How does Bernie react to finding the new animals in the barn after the livestock auction?

5. Why is Dick's cat allowed to come home to Dick?

6. What happens to Gent when autumn arrives?

7. How does Ben react to the prospect of being sent to special ed classes?

8. In what way does Ben pet Whittington, and how does Whittington respond?

9. What causes the ship to turn back after reaching Palermo?

10. What does the cat's former owner say when Dick Whittington offers to share his fortune?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the settings in the novel.

1) What role does the barn play as a setting in the novel? How does the setting of the barn affect the story and the reader's experience?

2) What role does London play as a setting in the novel? How is the time and place of Dick Whittington's life contrasted with the barn?

3) What other settings affect the novel, such as exotic Tripoli, and the reading program classroom?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss kindness in the novel and how characters give help to each other.

1) What affects does Bernie's kindness have on the other characters?

2) What role does kindness and help play in Dick Whittington's life and success? How does Dick show kindness and help to others?

3) What kindness and help does Ben receive in his struggle to learn to read? How does he react to kindness and help?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss illness and injury in the novel.

1) How do the characters deal with illness in the novel? What ways do characters try to combat or prevent illness or injury?

2) What causes illness? To what extent is illness something that can be controlled?

3) How do characters help each other when they are ill or injured? What do experiences with illness or injury say about the characters' relationships?

(see the answer keys)

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