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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. How does Wilbur feel at first about being outside his fence?

2. Which of the following is not a reason Mr. Arable offers for why Fern must sell Wilbur?

3. What has Charlotte woven into her web?

4. At the beginning of Chapter 10, what does Charlotte tell Wilbur that people are?

5. What does Templeton take from Wilbur?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of a father is Mr. Arable described as being?

2. Are the goose and the gander more sentimental or more practical? Why do you think as you do?

3. Why is Wilbur so unhappy as a young pig after living in the Zuckerman's barn for awhile?

4. How does Charlotte explain that spider webs are a good thing?

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

6. Why does Uncle Homer agree to buy Wilbur?

7. What is most remarkable about Wilbur's daily routine?

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

9. How does Mr. Arable help Wilbur become a little more independent?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the idea that people will believe anything they read in print. Does this story support that theory, and if so, how? Consider the messages contained in Charlotte's web, what inspired the writing of each one, and the reactions of various characters to each one.

Essay Topic 2

What lessons does Charlotte's Web teach about what it means to be a true friend? Consider issues such as how true friendships form, what true friends do for each other, and whether a true friendship might change its shape in various ways over time as the friends themselves change.

Essay Topic 3

Evaluate Templeton's character and the role he plays in the story. Most of the characters think of him as a glutton who only helps others to help himself, but are there any examples of him acting selflessly? Does he always expect some sort of reward for the work he does, even if the reward is just amusement? How does Templeton feel about Charlotte and Wilbur and they about him? Does he have any friends or act out of real friendship toward any of the other characters? If he is just a selfish rat, what does it say about the world that someone so self-centered could do so many things to save and change another animal's life?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 973 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample