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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. What does Annie claim she seeks most when she picks up a book?

2. According to Annie Dillard's studies, how old is the earth?

3. While on the island with her father, what does Annie realize for the first time?

4. On what part of their body do the girls in Annie's class typically use to compare their tans?

5. For what problem does Annie meet with her pastor to discuss?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are Louis Pasteur and Jonas Salk?

2. What fantasies about food rationing does Annie frequently have as a child?

3. How does Annie start her insect collection?

4. What happens to Oma after Opa died?

5. How does Annie feel seeing the boys from the Sewickley Dance at church the following Sunday?

6. What dangerous prank does Annie play on a local streetcar?

7. Why does the mother Mrs. McVicker had in a jar fascinate Annie so thoroughly?

8. What types of things does Mother fight for within her social circles?

9. How does Opa die?

10. What does Annie find most fascinating about the French-Indian War?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Annie describes most of her interactions with boys through the dance lessons of her childhood. First, explain how Annie feels about the boys in Pittsburgh while she is a child. Then, explain how, and why, those feelings change as she matures into adulthood.

Essay Topic 2

Organized religion is a constant theme throughout Annie's memoir. First, explain Annie's relationship to Catholicism as a child. Then, compare / contrast the Catholicism of Annie's childhood to the Protestantism of her adulthood. How did Annie's relationship with organized religion change as she matured into adulthood?

Essay Topic 3

Annie's favorite sport as a child was baseball. First, explain how Annie was introduced to the sport, and how the sport of baseball affected her daily life. Then, describe Annie's experience playing baseball with the neighborhood children. What did she learn from this experience? Finally, describe Annie's emotions about the transition from playing baseball to playing softball. What did she learn about herself in this experience?

(see the answer keys)

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