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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 is father working on when Robert gets home?

2. What does Robert find when he arrives home?

3. What does Robert help his father do on this day?

4. What wild plant does Robert eat outside?

5. What religion does Robert's family belong to?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Papa's sense of humor revealed in Chapter 3?

2. Describe the dramatic reaction to Robert's grade card.

3. Why is Robert not offended by the stench of animal slaughtering on his father?

4. How is Robert injured in his encounter with the cow?

5. Why is Robert not in school on the day of his adventure with the cow?

6. How does everyone at the farm view the birth of the new kittens?

7. According to Robert's father, what role do fences play in life for both humans and animals?

8. How is Aunt Mattie's exasperation also a source of humor?

9. What Shaker belief rules the building of Pinky's home?

10. What is the literary technique used when Robert watches a crow kill a frog in a pond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Papa at first does not want Robert to accept the gift of the piglet because it is a "frill." Explain what a frill is and why Papa would be so opposed to Robert's acquisition of one.

Essay Topic 2

When Robert is denied the opportunity to watch Abner Doubleday, the reputed father of baseball, his exclusion from the outside world becomes very clear. Explain why Robert is denied the chance to go to the game. Why is the game counter to what Papa thinks is good for Robert?

Essay Topic 3

Papa tries to encourage Robert to do the right thing at all times even though it may also be very hard. Cite three examples in the book where Robert does the right thing in spite of what his heart would rather do.

(see the answer keys)

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