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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 the beginning of Chapter Thirteen why is it supposed that Burton comes to visit the MacDonalds?

2. For which of the following does Ben NOT cry at the end of Chapter Eight?

3. How does Ben initially react when Esther tries to take him from John after he is found?

4. William decides during Chapter Nine that further help is needed. Which of the following men does William NOT ask for help?

5. What occurs to Ben when he awakens after his first night in the badger den?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the search team finally call off their search for Ben after two days?

2. Esther is concerned about her son all morning in Chapter Nine, and yet she does not go look for him. Why?

3. Why is Ben afraid of the badger when she returns to her den and finds him there?

4. Describe William's orders to Burton after the fight.

5. What are William's thoughts when Ben asks if the badger will live?

6. Why does the MacDonald family allow the badger to move in with them?

7. Describe why the MacDonald family finally accepts Ben's story as complete truth.

8. Why is William initially unconcerned about Ben's location in Chapter Nine?

9. Why does the search team from North Corners not turn up any sign of Ben in the two days they spend looking?

10. In Chapter Eight, does the badger intend to bring the prairie chicken for Ben or does he essentially steal it from her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Readers can, to an extent, determine the strength of Ben's relationships with those around him by examining the extent to which Ben speaks with them. To which characters is Ben closest? Which characters does he not have much of a relationship with? Analyze Ben's relationship with each of his family members using his communication as evidence of his feelings.

Essay Topic 2

Ben communicates with humans and with animals, but does not completely communicate with either group. Compare and contrast Ben's communication methods between these groups and explain why he cannot communicate completely with either.

Essay Topic 3

Based on his treatment of each group in the novel, does the author prefer humans or animals? What evidence supports your theory? Which group does the author spend more time describing, and why?

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