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. How often does Mrs. Arable say Fern goes to the barn?

2. How is Wilbur mistaken about Charlotte at the end of Chapter 5?

3. What reason does Charlotte give Wilbur for why he doesn't need a web?

4. What is Wilbur's first bed?

5. Which of the following is not one of the ways Fern takes care of Wilbur?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mrs. Arable feel about all the time Fern is spending in the barn?

2. How do people react to Charlotte's first web?

3. Why might Wilbur feel particularly betrayed that John Arable is in on the "conspiracy" to kill him?

4. How does Wilbur act during his "escape"?

5. Why does Mrs. Arable tell Fern in Chapter 8 that Fern can tell her more about the animals in Uncle Homer's barn that afternoon?

6. What sorts of things are most important to Fern at the beginning of the book?

7. What effect does Charlotte's web have on the farm?

8. Why does Wilbur have so much trouble sleeping at the beginning of Chapter 5?

9. Why does Uncle Homer agree to buy Wilbur?

10. How would you describe Wilbur's feelings about his early life with Fern in Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The development of the relationship between Wilbur and Charlotte is the heart of this story. Evaluate the course of this relationship from their first meeting through Charlotte's death and Wilbur's feelings about her after she is gone. Consider issues such as how their perceptions of each other change as they get to know each other better, what they learn from each other, what they do for each other and why, and how they depend on each other over time.

Essay Topic 2

What is the relationship between the webs Charlotte weaves and the effect the words have on Wilbur? Consider issues such as why Charlotte chooses each word or phrase, how fitting she feels each is, how fitting Wilbur feels each is, and how Wilbur behaves after each web is woven and presented to an audience.

Essay Topic 3

Because the narrative covers an extended period of time, the reader gets to witness several characters growing up and maturing. Focusing mainly on Fern and Wilbur, but also mentioning minor characters such as Avery and the goslings, write an essay about ways animals and humans change in this book as they grow up and mature.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,118 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample