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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. A great glacier expands and retracts across North America for the last few _____________ years.

2. In "Late Summer Ramblings," the author writes about the changing of the seasons and the life cycle of ________.

3. One raven flies close to the author, circles away, and then comes back. At this point, what is the author wondering about?

4. In "August 9-13 Some Berries," the author is in search of some _____________.

5. "The Time of Birdsong" describes the author's all-day observations of __________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to the author's vegetables? How might he feel about this?

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

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

4. What takes place in "August 14 Whispers of Fall"?

5. How is "October 26-30" an important chapter?

6. How is the author like Jack? Why?

7. How is the logging business important to the people of this region?

8. What do the author and his son do together in "Early September"? What does this reveal about them?

9. What is the purpose of "Beginnings"?

10. What takes place in "September 27 Starting a Sugar Shack"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author captures a raven and names him Jack.

Part 1) How does he go about catching the raven? Why does he capture Jack? Describe the author's experiences with Jack. What is learned about the author through his relationship with Jack?

Part 2) How does the author change because of Jack? What does he learn from Jack? How do ravens become a significant aspect of this book? Why?

Part 3) How is the author's relationship with all animals a significant part of this book? What does this reveal about the author?

Essay Topic 2

Although the author's life may seem more simple, he is often very busy.

Part 1) What is he often busy doing? Why? What does this reveal about the "simple" life? Is it truly all that simple? Explain.

Part 2) How is the author affected by this simple life? How does he feel about his new routine and daily activities? Why does he feel this way?

Part 3) How might you be changed by simplifying your life? Would your life slow down if you simplified it? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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