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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. As the author is running through the forest, he comes to a clearing that has been logged a few years earlier. What does he see there?

2. What are the author and his son doing as the section "August 30" begins?

3. "October 3 The Annual Rendezvous" is about __________________.

4. In "Burning Wood," the author writes that he is happy he has cut down so much wood, and it has given him a feeling of accomplishment. Nevertheless, what is he annoyed about?

5. In "September 23-26 The Garden," what does the author find after waking up one morning?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the author notice about the wasp and caterpillars?

2. What does the author do to prepare for winter in "June 12 Early Harvests"?

3. Describe "October 1 The Foliage." How is "October 1 The Foliage" an important chapter?

4. How is the author like Jack? Why?

5. What does the author do in "Election Time?" How does this reveal his feelings regarding elections?

6. How does Jack act like other ravens? How does the author predict this?

7. What is Adam's Hill? What is the purpose of the information about Adam's Hill?

8. How are trees a good source of energy? What can the reader learn from this?

9. What does the author learn about the life cycles of plants and animals in "The Urgency of Spring"?

10. How does the author feel about his housemates in "October 7 Housemates"? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author teaches a fifteen-day intensive course.

Part 1) Describe this course. Why does the author teach it? What does this reveal about him? What does this experience also reveal about him? What does this experience also reveal about his students? Describe the relationship between the author and his students.

Part 2) What are the benefits of a course such as this? Would you be interested in participating in something like this? Why or why not?

Part 3) How does this course compare to a regular college or high school course? What can teachers and professors of regular classroom-based classes learn from the course taught by the author? How might aspects of this course be incorporated into a regular classroom setting?

Essay Topic 2

Fishing is often discussed in this book.

Part 1) Describe the author's fishing expeditions. Why does he go fishing? How is fishing important in this book? What other activities pertaining to his relationship with nature are also important? Why?

Part 2) What else is also discussed a great deal in this book? Why? How is this important to the author and to this book?

Part 3) What activities in your own life are of importance? Why? How do these activities compare to those of the author?

Essay Topic 3

The author studies life cycles.

Part 1) Describe the life cycles the author studies. What does he learn about them? Why does he study them? How are they connected to other things he studies while living in the Maine woods?

Part 2) How is this book, as a whole, a study of life cycles? Describe the author's life cycle at this point. What might his life be like once he leaves the woods? Why?

Part 3) What have you learned about life and life cycles because of this book? How is this new information important in your life? What can you do with this new information?

(see the answer keys)

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