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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. When do the speakers say this, in regards to the answer to number 14?

2. Only when does the mayfly seem to feel nostalgia?

3. Whom do the water striders try to teach to walk on water?

4. According to this poem, why is the moth drawn to the light?

5. "Water Striders" asks whether this insect's ability to walk on water is what?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How are mayflies and fireflies similar?

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

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

6. What literary devices does the poet use to express the moth's feelings?

7. How would you describe a firefly to someone who has never seen one?

8. How does a mayfly feel at the end of its life? Why?

9. How are these lice like people?

10. To what can the water strider's ability to walk on water be compared? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The poet chooses to write a book about insects.

Part 1) What might be the poet's opinion of insects? How does this book reflect this?

Part 2) What might have been the poet's purpose for writing these poems? What other subjects might the poet be interested in? Why?

Part 3) If you were to write a book of poetry, about what would you write? Why? How might this affect those who would read your poems? Why?

Essay Topic 3

"Requiem" is a unique poem.

Part 1) How is it unique? Why is it so different from the other poems? What is the purpose of this poem? How is this poem connected to all the other poems?

Part 2) What is the lesson of this poem? How can humans relate this to their own lives?

Part 3) What is a requiem? Why are requiems created? How do those who hear these requiems benefit from them?

(see the answer keys)

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