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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. Leigh says in his diary entry from January 20 that he wishes he had a grandfather like whom?

2. Leigh writes in his March 3 diary entry that he bought what at the hardware store today?

3. Where does Leigh say he and his mother ate their dinner in his February 5 diary entry?

4. Of the man at the hardware store, Leigh says in his March 3 diary entry, “He called me son, and my Dad calls me” what?

5. What surprised Leigh about the book Beggar Bears, according to his letter on January 15?

Short Essay Questions

1. What letter does Leigh describe receiving from his father in his diary entry on February 9? How does Leigh feel about the letter?

2. What is related in Leigh’s “review” of Beggar Bears in his January 15 letter?

3. What progress does Leigh describe making with his lunch situation in his March 1 diary entry?

4. Where does Leigh describe going on a walk in his diary entry from February 7?

5. What is revealed about Leigh’s story, “The Ten-Foot Wax Man,” in his February 15 letter?

6. What do the butterflies in Leigh’s February 7 diary entry symbolize in Dear Mr. Henshaw?

7. How does Leigh’s dad describe losing Bandit? Where was he when Bandit was lost?

8. What is the tone of Leigh’s diary entries from January 31 and February 1?

9. What exchange does Leigh describe between himself and Mr. Fridley in his February 6 diary entry?

10. What worries consume Leigh about his dad in his January 30 diary entry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define “epistolary” and discuss the characteristics of this style of literature. What documents can be used to make up an epistolary work of fiction? How does this literary style develop greater realism to a story? How is the narrative point of view determined in an epistolary novel?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the characters of Bonnie and Bill Botts as described in Leigh’s letters. How does Leigh feel about each of his parents? Where do they work? Do you think Leigh is partial to one parent over the other? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In Dear Mr. Henshaw, Leigh writes to his favorite author from second through sixth grades. Discuss Beverly Cleary’s use of language to depict the maturity of Leigh as he continues writing to Mr. Henshaw. For instance, what grammatical and spelling errors can you find in Leigh’s early letters? How do Leigh’s mistakes change as he gets older?

(see the answer keys)

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