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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 does Brun decide to hunt mammoth, even though it is a risky undertaking?

2. What do the older men use to hunt small animals?

3. After Broud beats Ayla, what does Brun threaten?

4. Why does Brun reprimand Broud?

5. What does Ayla decide to do with her sling while on the mammoth hunt trip?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Broud envision about the combined cave ceremony and his manhood ceremony?

2. Why does Broud cuff Ayla?

3. How does Ayla feel after the animal attack?

4. Why do many of the clan think it would be better if Ayla lost the baby?

5. What did Ayla realize when she kills the porcupine?

6. Why does Broud become sexually interested in Ayla?

7. How does Ayla feel when she makes her first kill?

8. What causes the girl to run after the earthquake?

9. What is Creb's argument for not cursing Ayla for almost trying to force Brun to accept the baby?

10. Why does Ayla become the center of attention after the first female sturgeon is caught?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ayla is influenced by many of the stories and legends of the clan.

Part 1) What are the legends that most influence Ayla? They can be fictional stories that are passed down through the generations, or they can be based on memories of events that happened to the clan.

Part 2) How does each legend or story directly or indirectly influence Ayla's actions and decisions?

Part 3) Do you think Ayla would have acted differently in each situation without the knowledge of the legends? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

What makes Brun a good leader? Write an essay exploring Brun's character. Identify three characteristics that you consider good leadership qualities. Provide examples from the text showing the development of that characteristic in Brun. How does each make him a good leader?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining how evolution plays a part in the novel. How is Ayla more evolved than the clan? What are the effects of her being more evolved? How do these effects influence the events in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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