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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. What made Emma Lou finally decide to go to Jerome's door?

2. Mama and Papa are taking their babies out at night to...

3. Jerome finds that the baby deer is a...

4. Who is Amby?

5. What name did Emma Lou and Jerome assign to Mrs. Grouch?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss Jerome's camping experience.

2. Why does Strong Heart come barking toward Jerome's house? What happens to him?

3. Although Jerome is proud of the fireplace he built, he has walled up his stonemason's tools inside. Discuss why that might be.

4. How does Jerome deal with the rats who have nested in his wall?

5. What makes Jerome feel better about the lonesomeness of his home?

6. After carving Charmine's gravestone, what is Jerome inspired to do next? Why?

7. How does Emma Lou know the mountain lion is gone? Why doesn't she tell Jerome?

8. What is different now about Emma Lou's dinner invitation?

9. Why does Jerome consider taking a floorboard out?

10. Discuss the sense of mourning in the house over Charmine's demise.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Through the story we begin to see signs that Jerome is aging. Although it is not clear how old he is, he is obviously retired and slowing down. Do a careful reading of the story and discuss the signs of aging that Jerome increasingly displays.

Essay Topic 2

Explore the first real turning point in the story that bonds Kildee and Emma Lou, and drives an even more severe wedge between Emma Lou and Donald Cabot. What is the real source of Emma's and Jerome's grief? Why do they become so upset to lose one of the raccoons, when they have so many to enjoy? What qualities have they assigned to Charmine? Why do they not grieve, for example, the death of the pack rats who are killed by skunks?

Essay Topic 3

Emma Lou and Donald bring a lot of tension and worry to Jerome's formerly peaceful life. Identify it and describe what it is that causes him to be "fussed" much of the time. Is their friendship worth it to Jerome? How do they add to his life? What do they take from his life?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 870 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample