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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. What does the sign on Leigh’s door say?

2. Leigh says he’s thinking of writing a poem about what for the Young Writers’ Yearbook in his March 1 diary entry?

3. Who suggests taping a cardboard shelf in Leigh’s lunchbox so his sandwich won’t muffle the alarm?

4. What new vocabulary word does Leigh use to mean “to print” in his letter to Mr. Henshaw on January 19?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Leigh’s diary entries change on February 6? What does Leigh relate in this entry?

2. What outcome does Leigh describe of his alarm invention in his diary entries from March 5 and 6?

3. What does Leigh reveal about Mr. Henshaw’s advice in his letter from February 28?

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

5. What does Leigh describe buying at the hardware store in his March 3 diary entry? What does Leigh say about the man who works there?

6. Why are there babies in Leigh’s room when he writes his diary entry on February 2?

7. What does Leigh tell Mr. Henshaw about the writing competition in his letter from January 19?

8. What does Leigh describe as “the worst part” of his exchange with his dad in his February 4 diary entry?

9. What does Leigh relate to Mr. Henshaw about his diary in his letter from January 12?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the characters and setting of Beggar Bears. Where previously in the novel did the author foreshadow the appearance of this book by Mr. Henshaw? How? What does Leigh think of the story? How does it compare with Mr. Henshaw’s other books?

Essay Topic 2

Define “conflict” in literature, as well as the different types of conflict that can be found. Discuss examples of the conflicts seen in Dear Mr. Henshaw. Which of these conflicts are internal, external, or relational? How does Leigh overcome the conflicts he faces as the story’s protagonist?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the ten questions submitted by Leigh to Mr. Henshaw. Are these effective questions to base an author report on? Why or why not? What questions would you ask your favorite author? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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