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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. This group of people slaved away for the small _____________ population who controlled the country.

2. How do the two parts relate to the whirligig beetle?

3. "The Digger Wasp" is a very _________________ story.

4. How does the queen spend her days?

5. Why might the cause of death of these insects be surprising to humans?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How are cicadas like a choir?

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

4. What does "Water Boatmen" describe? Why?

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

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

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

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

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

10. Compare the different types of honeybees.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is artwork found throughout this book.

Part 1) Describe the artwork found in this book. How is the artwork connected to the poems? How important is the artwork to the poems? Which poems seem to have a stronger connection with the artwork? Why?

Part 2) Is this artwork necessary to the poetry? Why or why not? Does it effectively enhance the poems? Why or why not?

Part 3) How are art and literature connected, in general? How do they benefit from each other? How can they inspire and support each other?

Essay Topic 2

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 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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