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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. The North West Company's original fort is seized and destroyed by the Hudson Bay Company; what is the name of the fort that replaces this original fort?

2. Why does the badger decide not to go out and hunt at the end of Chapter Six?

3. As the book opens, the author says that the name "Winnipeg" originated with which Native American tribe?

4. Where does the female badger take shelter after collapsing in her den?

5. In Chapter Three, how does the hawk react when Ben tries to watch it eat?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to the townspeople of Winnipeg, why does Burton take his dog, Lobo, with him wherever he goes?

2. How do the townspeople of Winnipeg react to the stories of Ben's relationship with animals?

3. Why was the male badger unable to detect the danger of the trap?

4. Explain why the female badger did not run after her meeting with Ben.

5. Describe the den the badger creates for herself and her litter.

6. Describe the growth of the MacDonald farm in the early years of the settlement.

7. Why does the hawk not frighten the badger while she searches for a site for her den?

8. One of the pups is still alive when the female badger finally escapes the trap and returns to her den. Why does the last pup die?

9. What reasons does William give Esther for why he agreed to let Burton run traps on their land?

10. What happened to the badger's last litter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Can the novel be accurately described as a coming-of-age story? Why or why not? What characteristics of that genre apply? Are there characteristics that do not apply? Support your answer with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Are Eckert's animals lifelike and believable? Or are they too anthropomorphic to be real? Pick three animals from the story (aside from the badger) and discuss how realistic the animals seem.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the characters of George Burton and Ben MacDonald. Are they good versus evil? Or something else? In what ways are their motivations alike and different? Do they have anything in common at all?

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