View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How is Jerome able to tolerate skunks in the house?

2. Who takes care of the noises in the wall?

3. What is the fate of Mrs. Grouch?

4. To what does Jerome compare the pack rats' clumping noise?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Why would a person use a store window for the front of his home?

2. What does Jerome assume about the status of Papa skunk when the new babies arrive?

3. Discuss Ben's visit to Jerome. What do we learn about the Eppys and Ben in this chapter?

4. Why does Emma Lou, initially, want to pay a visit to Jerome?

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

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

7. Discuss Jerome's camping experience.

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

9. Write a short essay about the subtle clues regarding Jerome's life. This is something of a fantasy story, but there are real life elements that are only mentioned in passing. What are they, and what do they indicate?

10. Why does Jerome consider taking a floorboard out?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the use of symbolism in terms of the structure of the small Kildee house. Several aspects of the house provide clues into Jerome's life and the path he is destined to take. Consider Jerome's fireplace, window, back wall and kitchen. What might each of these represent?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Is Jerome Kildee a poor man? If not, how does the reader know? Do a careful reading of the story and find passages that reveal hints about Jerome's financial status, and draw your conclusions in a persuasive essay.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 857 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample