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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. When the elephants disappear, the author notices that the ground is covered with _______.

2. What occurs in "January 13"?

3. Where does the author take a trip to in "May 2"?

4. In "April 8," what does the author check out on a dairy farm?

5. In "January 20 Coyotes," what is the man, which the author just happens upon, doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe "April 20." Is the author's life a simple one? Why or why not?

2. What takes place in "Cows"? What is your reaction to this? Why?

3. What does the author notice about the squirrels in "March 20-21"? What are your thoughts regarding the squirrels' behavior?

4. What does the author realize about the ravens in "December 23 Ravens"? How does this affect his behavior?

5. Describe the author's walk in "April 28 Free Search." Why does he do this?

6. Describe the snow storm. How does it affect the author?

7. What is the most important aspect of hunting for the author? Why?

8. What takes place in "December 29 Winter Ecology?" Why might the author do this?

9. How does the author deal with his "cabin fever"?

10. What takes place in "January 5 Bog Trip"? How might this affect the students?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Stuart, the author's son, visits him several times at the cabin.

Part 1) Describe their visits together. What do these visits reveal about each of them? What do they reveal about their relationship? Do you believe the author spends enough time with his son? Is this a healthy relationship between a parent and a child? Why or why not?

Part 2) How would you feel if your parents divorced and one of them left to live in another state? How might this affect you and your relationship with your parents?

Part 3) What are your thoughts on divorce and the actions of parents regarding their children? Can children of divorce lead healthy lives? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

The author is sick of celebrating Christmas in the traditional American way.

Part 1) How has he come to this conclusion? Why might he feel this way? Might these feelings change again? Why or why not?

Part 2) How might he want to celebrate Christmas? Why might he want to celebrate it in this way? How might it reflect his lifestyle since he has lived in the cabin in the Maine woods?

Part 3) How do you celebrate holidays? Do you celebrate in a traditionally American way? Why or why not? Would you change the way you celebrate? If so, how would you change and why would you change? If not, why not?

Essay Topic 3

The author rids himself of many modern conveniences.

Part 1) What are several modern conveniences he does away with? Why? What is the purpose of ridding his life of modern conveniences? Should he do this? Why or why not?

Part 2) How does this "simpler" life affect the author? What does he learn about himself, the natural world around him, and the modern world from doing away with most modern conveniences?

Part 3) Should people spend time without modern conveniences and technology? Why or why not? Would you choose to live without modern conveniences for a period of time? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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