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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. Emma Lou wants to take her statue of Old Grouch...

2. Jerome knows it is possible that, at some point...

3. Jerome wants to consider...

4. So far, Donald's magazine ads have...

5. The Eppys have brought with them to Jerome's house...

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Jerome feeling stressful?

2. With the entire Eppy family present, and the large amounts of food on the table, how has Jerome's small house been transformed?

3. Discuss what Emma has managed to teach the skunks to do as tricks.

4. Discus Jerome's developing attitude toward Donald. Why does he not go ahead and welcome Donald to come visit?

5. How does Monarch respond to his new freedom? Is he typical of a deer?

6. What activities seem to bring the two kids together? Why?

7. Why has Donald come to visit Jerome?

8. Poor Jerome is discouraged. How do we know this?

9. Why are Jerome Kildee's nerves frayed at this time? There is more than one reason.

10. How do Jim Hinkle and Jerome become friends?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Emma Lou seem to want all of these animals to be at Jerome's? Rather than chasing them away, she wants the families to have nests, and even secretly wants Monarch to live with him. Explore the passages in the story where the author makes it obvious that Emma Lou is encouraging this awkward situation. Is this totally self-centered on her part? Does she care about what Jerome wants?

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 has a full life, but not in the way children do today. Write an essay, gleaning from the story all of her chores and responsibilities. Compare and contrast Emma Lou's school day to today's child, and make a convincing argument for the simple life she lives. How does she spend her free time? Why are her interests focused on nature?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,084 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample