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. In the story "Akhnilo," how many words does Eddie Fenn believe he can hear being whispered in the wind?

2. How many of the threesome survive the fishing trip in the story "The Ledge"?

3. How often did the narrator's father lose money when he was gambling in "The Lover of Horses"?

4. How does Ile's servant treat Gil when he arrives in the forest?

5. In the story "The Liar," in what country does James say he works with young children?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator react when her father falls ill in "The Lover of Horses"?

2. Who is Arnold Friend in the story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"

3. Why don't roommates Henry and Osmond get along in the story "The Christian Roommates"?

4. What instrument does Jack Hawthorne learn to play in the story "Redemption," and why?

5. How does a monkey end up aboard ship in the story "Letters from the Samantha"?

6. How did the older woman in "The Story of a Scar" get the scar on her face?

7. What type of hunting experience does the fisherman and his boys have in the story "The Ledge"?

8. How does David Hawthorne die in the story "Redemption," and what is his family's reaction?

9. How does the fisherman die in the story "The Ledge"?

10. What type of relationship does the narrator have with her dead son in the story "Dream Children"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The story "Where are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is full of moments when reality and fantasy intermix, particularly in the mind of Connie. Describe the fantasy Connie has about love and compare that to the reality of the romance present in her young life. Then, describe the fantasy Connie creates about Arnold Friend and compare it to the reality of who he really is. Finally, explain the way that Connie's experiences with Arnold, either real or imagined, affected the way she views the world. Be sure to include examples from the text that you believe strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

The story "The Wedding" is all about loneliness. First, describe the loneliness of Sam, Elizabeth, and the child. What is the same about their loneliness? What is different? Describe the relationship between Elizabeth's loneliness and her passion for reading. How do these two seemingly unrelated things affect each other? Finally, describe how loneliness brought Sam and Elizabeth together in marriage. In the end, do you think the couple was settling, or were they truly in love? How can you tell? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

The story "Push" is all about the dangers of threats, either real or imagined. First, describe the two main characters of the story. What is the same about these two boys? What is different? Describe how they threaten one another and what actions each boy takes to ensure that they are the most popular kid on the playground. Then, describe the events of the boy's final fight on the playground. Which was victorious? What did each of the boys learn about themselves through their fights and threats for popularity? Be sure to include examples from the text that you believe strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,190 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample