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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 digger wasp feels _______________ that its offspring will understand the sacrifices it made for them.

2. A great deal of imagery and expressive vocabulary is also used to describe the ____________ movements of these beetles.

3. What are three words used to describe the whirligig beetle's movements?

4. What does the digger wasp hope to do for its offspring?

5. What names are used to describe the water boatmen?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author use poetry and literary devices to teach about whirligig beetles?

2. How does the poet use poetry to give the reader a sense of what cicadas sound like?

3. What does "The Digger Wasp" describe? Why?

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

5. To what else could the water boatmen be compared? Why?

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

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

8. What is the mood of "The Digger Wasp?" Why?

9. How does this poem draw attention to nature and the life cycle of insects?

10. Why might the digger wasp die before its young are born?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The book is written for two speakers.

Part 1) Why might the poet have chosen to have two speakers read his poems in unison? How does this affect the poems as a whole?

Part 2) How do these poems compare to poems that have only one speaker? Which type of poems do you prefer, those with one speaker or two? Why?

Part 3) How does the use of poetry enhance the subjects of the poems? Would these stories of insects be as interesting or appealing if they were written in prose instead of poetry? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Some of the insects' actions are described.

Part 1) What poems focus on action? Whose action is the focus? Why is this the focus? What does this reveal about this insect?

Part 2) How do the other poems contrast these very active poems? Why does this contrast exist? What does this reveal about the insects?

Part 3) How is action connected to the mood of the poem? How important is the mood of the poem? Explain. Is the mood of a story important to every story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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