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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 January 12 letter to Mr. Henshaw that he is on what page of Beggar Bears?

2. 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?

3. It becomes apparent in Leigh’s March 15 diary entry that he has gained a sense of what?

4. What does Leigh recall his dad saying society was ruining in his diary entry from February 2?

5. Where does Barry say he’d like to install an alarm after Leigh’s lunchbox success?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Leigh relate about Mr. Henshaw’s new book in his January 12 letter?

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define “protagonist” in literature and develop a list of the common qualities seen in protagonists. How do these qualities apply to Leigh Botts in Dear Mr. Henshaw? Why does Leigh choose to write to Mr. Henshaw? What information does Leigh relate of his personal life in these first letters?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the settings of Bakersfield and Pacific Grove, California. How big are these towns? How does Leigh describe them in his letters? What is the weather like in Bakersfield and Pacific Grove? How do these settings differ?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the differences noted in the text between Leigh’s letters and his diary entries. How does Leigh change the way he prints the date on each document? How does Leigh address his diary entries? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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