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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. Why can't the goose play with Wilbur?

2. What does Wilbur witness Charlotte catch in her web in Chapter 5?

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

4. What has Charlotte woven into her web?

5. Who is Dr. Dorian?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Wilbur's boast and how does Fern feel when she hears him make it?

2. What kind of voice does Wilbur use to call for his new friend, and what does this voice tell the reader about Wilbur's development at this point?

3. Why do you think Fern goes rigid on her stool one time while visiting with the barn animals?

4. 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?

5. Why might the author include scientific information about spider's webs and legs in Chapter 9?

6. What might Mr. Arable mean when he says that maybe their ears aren't as sharp as Fern's?

7. How might the goose's personality be described?

8. How observant is Lurvy when it comes to Wilbur, and how can you tell?

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

10. What is Charlotte's impression of people?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay discussing what Charlotte's Web has to say on the subject of fame. Include discussion of issues such as how people (and pigs) might achieve fame, what some beneficial and hurtful byproducts and effects of fame might be, and how fame might change people (and pigs) either for the better or the worse.

Essay Topic 2

One of the most appealing aspects of this story is the humor it contains. Choose one of the following options to write about:

1.) Explain what various types of humor are contained in this story (such as wit, descriptions of slapstick situations, or irony) and provide examples of each, discussing why the author might have used each of these types in the telling of this tale.

2.) Focus on one specific type of humor contained in this story and discuss many examples of it, discussing how it adds to the meaning of the story and the reader's experience of reading it.

Essay Topic 3

Adults and children seem to see the world in different ways in this book, although some grownups (like Mr. Arable and Dr. Dorian) seem to at least appreciate the different way that children perceive animals and nature. Write an essay comparing and contrasting human adult and child characters from this story in terms of how they interact with and care for animals and nature.

(see the answer keys)

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