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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. Though the weather is still cold in "March 16," the author can see the tracks and furrows of many animals. What does he search for as the sun comes out?

2. How does Stuart feel about his father?

3. What does the author set out to do in "November 25 Connections"?

4. The author and his son watch a ______________ fly up into the sky and then circle back down to the ground.

5. In the section "May 7," the author observes a few more nesting birds and notes their mating rituals are starting to _______.

Short Essay Questions

1. What takes place in "March 31"? How might the author feel about this?

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

3. What does the author learn from this dissection? How is this important to him?

4. How does the author spend Christmas? How does he feel about this? How does this experience compare to his other experiences throughout this book?

5. How do Stuart's classmates respond to his father? How important might their reactions be to how he perceives his father? Why?

6. Describe the metamorphosis taking place in the Maine woods. How might the author feel about this?

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

8. What observations does the author make in "May 15 Weeds in Huckleberry Bog"? What might be the significance of this?

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

10. Describe the author's smelting trip with Bill. Do you agree with their conclusion? Why or why not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author keeps records of his experiences for one year in the woods of Maine.

Part 1) Describe these records. Why does he want to do this? Why does he decide to spend a year in Maine? Do you see this as a beneficial experience? Why or why not?

Part 2) How did the author change throughout this year? What caused these changes? How might the author have been permanently affected by his experiences in the Maine woods?

Part 3) What have you learned from the author's experiences during this year? How might you benefit from this? Has reading this book changed you? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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 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)

This section contains 1,407 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample