View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The author has become rather sick of celebrating __________________ in the traditional American way.

2. When the deer looks at him, what does the author do?

3. What does the author do before cooking and eating the fish that he and his neighbor catch?

4. In "March 20-21 First Tappers," what does the author notice about the squirrels?

5. The author and his neighbor _________ go ice fishing in "April 3 Ice Fishing."

Short Essay Questions

1. What takes place in "April 4 Returns"? Describe the author's attitude at this time.

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

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

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

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

6. How important are these fishing expeditions for the author? Why?

7. What does the author notice in "December 3"?

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

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

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?

Essay Topic 2

The weather is an important part of life in the woods.

Part 1) Describe the weather patterns discussed by the author. Why does he discuss them? How is the weather important to him?

Part 2) Is weather as important to us in the modern world as it is to someone living in the wilderness? Why or why not?

Part 3) How does weather affect our world today? What role do humans play in the changes in weather?

Essay Topic 3

The author notices how perceptive the wild animals are.

Part 1) How does he begin to notice this? Is he surprised by how perceptive they are? Why or why not?

Part 2) How does the degree of the author's ability to perceive begin to mirror that of the animals? Why does this occur? Might reading this book make you more perceptive? Why or why not?

Part 3) How else might a reader be changed by this book? How does this support the purpose of this book?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,277 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample