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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Em decide to call the First Year?
(a) Year of the baby.
(b) Year of the drought.
(c) Year of the ox.
(d) Year of plenty.

2. What does Ish start carrying with him for protection after meeting a pack of dogs in his hometown?
(a) A hand-held radio.
(b) A loud bullhorn.
(c) A baseball bat.
(d) A firearm.

3. Why does Em move to Ish's house?
(a) He has a greater supply of food.
(b) He doesn't want to move his books.
(c) He lives in a safer area of the city.
(d) Her house is too small for all of them.

4. What animal does Ish see in his neighbor's yard that doesn't seem to belong there?
(a) A cow.
(b) A goat.
(c) A horse.
(d) A sheep.

5. Why do Em and Ish decide to keep Princess in the house during the infestation?
(a) Because they have seen a strange man who won't speak with them.
(b) Because of something that Ish finds.
(c) Because they're afraid she will run away.
(d) For protection.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Ish find when he arrives home after his trip to the east coast?

2. When pondering about mankind, Ish comes up with a definition for them. What definition does he use?

3. At the beginning of the book, why doesn't Ish know about the virus?

4. Why does Ish think the books in the library are important?

5. While exploring the city, Ish finds a body hanging from a telephone pole. What does the sign say that is attached to the body?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Ish and Em have to refill in order to continue on their journey? How do they do this?

2. What does the author mean when he talks about certain crops and mankind being interdependent? Is he trying to make a larger statement?

3. Why is Ish so concerned about finding people who can "fix" civilization?

4. When visiting the library, what does Joey ask Ish about restoring? What does he see that causes him to ask the question?

5. Why are Bob and Dick so eager to use a brick to smash the door instead of the hammer?

6. Why does Ish worry so much about Evie's state?

7. Why does Em start crying when she tells Ish about her pregnancy?

8. Would Ish like any man that the boys brought back? Why or why not?

9. Ish uses razors, and then throws them away, using a new one every day. Is this behavior a good idea or a bad idea? What doesthis say about Ish?

10. Is it significant that the author shows all the dependent animals dying first? If so, how is it significant?

(see the answer keys)

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