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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 poet compares the firefly to what?

2. What aspects of humanity can be learned from the book lice poem?

3. The mayfly's birth and death take place when?

4. What is some of the vocabulary used by the poet to describe the grasshoppers?

5. How do the book lice meet?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why might the poet write a book about insects? Why did he choose to write about insects using poetry?

2. What feelings are evoked by the grasshoppers? Why?

3. What is "Joyful Noise?" Why might the poet find this joyful?

4. How does the mayfly's perception of time compare to our own?

5. If you were to write a poem, what would it be about? Why?

6. What is the purpose of "Book Lice?"

7. How are mayflies and fireflies similar?

8. What might be the real purpose for a firefly's light? Why do you think this?

9. What does the poem "Book Lice" do for English literature?

10. To what does the poet compare fireflies? Is this a good comparison? Why or why not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The different species' personalities are as different as people.

Part 1) Which insect species is most like you? How is this species like you? How does this affect your opinion of this species?

Part 2) How might your opinion of this species change your view of them the next time you see them? Why?

Part 3) How can you use this book to help you better understand other creatures, such as mammals and reptiles?

Essay Topic 2

There are many insect species described in this book.

Part 1) After reading these poems, to which species do you feel most connected? Why? How has this book changed your attitude toward this species? Why?

Part 2) Which species would you add, if you were the poet? Why? How might this species compare to those already included in this book?

Part 3) How do these species represent all insects? Are all types of insects adequately represented? If so, how? If not, why not?

Essay Topic 3

This book is filled with poems about insects.

Part 1) Why might the poet have chosen insects as his subject matter? What might have led him to choose these types of insects? What do these insects have in common?

Part 2) After reading these poems, how has your opinion of insects been altered? Why? Which insect is your favorite, after reading this book? Why?

Part 3) Why is it important to learn about insects? How are insects important to our world? How different would our world be without insects? Would it be a balanced world without insects? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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