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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. How does William respond to Ben's reaction over the badger skinning?

2. As far as the townspeople can tell, the new neighbor originally comes from where?

3. Which Native American tribe used to inhabit the lands that make up the MacDonald farm?

4. Which of the following animals does the prologue NOT mention as present on the MacDonald farm?

5. From how far away can a male badger detect a female's scent?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the prologue, how is Esther MacDonald described?

2. Describe the process by which the female badger keeps her den clean and the purpose of her behavior.

3. What reasons does the author give in Chapter Three for why Ben wishes to become a bird?

4. Describe the difference between William and Esther's opinions of Ben's development in Chapter Two.

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

6. As the prologue ends, what does the author say is the MacDonald family's greatest problem and why is that problem strange?

7. Why does William think Ben isn't normal, as stated in Chapter One?

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

9. Describe how the female badger escapes from the trap in Chapter Six.

10. Why is the female badger luckier in her experience with the trap than her mate?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The concept of man versus nature is a recurrent one throughout literature. Examine and explain the ways in which this novel addresses this age-old debate. Use information from the text to support the paper.

Essay Topic 2

William and Esther have very different approaches to dealing with their son's disability. Compare and contrast their methods and examine which method seems to be more effective. Be sure to use supporting information from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Eckert includes some imagery--such as the deaths of animals--that may strike the reader as gruesome and unnecessary. Are these details unnecessary? Or are they essential to the story? What message does the author intend to convey with these descriptions? Is the author heartless? Or is he merely trying to present an accurate picture of nature?

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