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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. At least ___________ people have died from lightning strikes throughout the history of Yellowstone.

2. Harry Walker, 25, on Friday, ____________________, hitchhiked into Yellowstone Park illegally with his friend 'Crow.'

3. How does the author suggest that people get more in touch with nature?

4. What would cost $3,000?

5. The bear charged Crow and did what?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Harry Walker and Crow's story affect life for the bears at Yellowstone? Is this good or bad?

2. What does the author understand about how humans feel about large, wild animals? What advice does he give?

3. How many dangerous plants exist in Yellowstone? Name one of them. How is this plant dangerous? Why is this important to know?

4. How are winters at Yellowstone dangerous?

5. Have falling trees been a significant danger in Yellowstone? Why or why not?

6. Describe the court case that came from Harry's and Crow's actions.

7. How does the author treat the deaths in this book? Why does he treat them in this way?

8. What is surprising about bears at Yellowstone? Why might this be true?

9. Describe the worst hot spring accident. Why might this be the worst?

10. What happened to David Allen Kirwan? How could this have been avoided?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There have been several horse-related fatalities.

Part 1) Describe the use of the horse in the park's history. Why were horses so important? How did this change over time? Why did this change over time? How did this evolution affect Yellowstone?

Part 2) Describe four horse-related fatalities. Why did they take place? Could they have been prevented? If so, how? If not, why not? Who was found to be at fault, the victim, the park, or others? Why? Does the author agree with this decision? Why or why not?

Part 3) Overall, was the use of horses in the park a serious danger? Why or why not? How does this compare to the use of the automobile?

Essay Topic 2

The bison or buffalo is heavily mythologized.

Part 1) Describe this myth and how it influences visitors at Yellowstone National Park. Why does this myth exist? Does it exist with other animals, as well as bison? Why or why not?

Part 2) Besides other animals, how else do visitors see the park's plants and landscape? Why do they see it in this way?

Part 3) What are your thoughts when you hear the word park? Do you think of danger? Why or why not? How might this name, park, be misleading to many who visit Yellowstone National Park?

Essay Topic 3

Humans have a desire to be close to nature.

Part 1) Describe this desire, and support it with information from this book. Why do humans desire to be close to nature? How does this affect their behavior at places like Yellowstone?

Part 2) Why might humans feel that wild animals in a park would be tame? How do they come to assume this? How does Yellowstone try to warn visitors that this assumption is incorrect? Is this enough? Why or why not?

Part 3) How does the author suggest humans become closer to nature? What does this mean that visitors must understand? How might this belief affect Yellowstone and other parks like it?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,230 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample