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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. "Cicadas" is a poem that gives purpose and reason to what?

2. How can the lives of the two different bees in this poem be described?

3. Upon contemplating this poem and the deaths of these insects, one becomes more aware of what?

4. Why is the answer to number 90 repeated in the poem?

5. Where are the water boatmen headed?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do "Whirligig Beetles" and "Requiem" compare?

2. How is the artwork important, specifically to the whirligig beetle poem? Why?

3. How is "Requiem" unlike any of the other poems? Why?

4. How could a person relate to a day in the life of the whirligig beetle?

5. What is the mood of "Cicadas?" Why?

6. What is a literary device used in "Water Boatmen?" Explain how it is used.

7. Describe the whirligig beetle, based on this poem.

8. How can the world of the honeybee be compared to your own world?

9. What is "Requiem?"

10. How does this mood in "The Digger Wasp" change? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The insects described in this book have varying personalities and characteristics.

Part 1) Which species seem to be the most like humans, based on these poems? How are they like humans?

Part 2) Why has the poet portrayed them in this way? How might this affect one's view of this species?

Part 3) Why does the poet choose to use personification in this book? What other literary devices are used? Why are they used?

Essay Topic 2

Having a purpose in life is an important theme in this book.

Part 1) How is this an important theme? Choose four of the insects described in this book. What is each insect's purpose, based on the poem? Why is this its purpose? How can you relate to this?

Part 2) How do the various purposes differ? Why do they differ? How are the insects' instincts, habitats, and physical abilities connected to these purposes?

Part 3) How can humans relate to each of these purposes? Why? How are humans unique in regards to purpose in life? How does this compare to the insects in this book?

Essay Topic 3

A theme of this book is the focus on the insects' unique qualities.

Part 1) What are the unique qualities of each of the insects? How does the poet describe these unique qualities and make them stand out to the reader? What is his purpose for doing this?

Part 2) What is the most frequent quality described in this book? Support your response with proof from the book. Why might the poet have frequently focused on this quality? How can humans relate to this quality?

Part 3) How might reading about these unique qualities affect the reader? How might the reader's view of insects change because of these unique qualities? How do these qualities help you identify with the insects?

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