View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What reason does White give his agent for putting the book, Charlotte's Web, aside for a while?
(a) To allow it to breathe.
(b) To allow it to seem familiar.
(c) To allow it to ripen.
(d) To allow it to seem new.

2. Which Maine Senator does White write to in opposition of the Dirksen amendment?
(a) Margaret Chase Smith.
(b) Edmund S. Muskie.
(c) Frederick G. Payne.
(d) William D. Hathaway.

3. What does the Dirksen amendment involve?
(a) A new grading system for schools.
(b) A longer school day for students.
(c) Voluntary prayer in school.
(d) A shortened school day for students.

4. When is the children's concert of "The Trumpet of the Swan" performed?
(a) April 15, 1972.
(b) May 13, 1972.
(c) April 15, 1971.
(d) May 13, 1971.

5. When does White write a letter to his stepson, Roger, and his wife, Carol?
(a) 1968.
(b) 1967.
(c) 1966.
(d) 1969.

6. In his letter to fifth grade students, how many sheep does White say that he has?
(a) Five.
(b) Twenty.
(c) Fifteen.
(d) Ten.

7. What type of people did Ross hire when starting the New Yorker, according to White?
(a) Talented if inexperienced.
(b) Unmotivated and inexperienced.
(c) Motivated if inexperienced.
(d) Talented and experienced.

8. How long does White carefully study the screenplay for "Charlotte's Web" before returning it to his agent with his annotations?
(a) One month.
(b) Two months.
(c) One week.
(d) Two weeks.

9. Which city's orchestra does White adapt "The Trumpet of the Swan" for?
(a) Pittsburgh.
(b) Philadelphia.
(c) Lancaster.
(d) Allentown.

10. How many years does White do newsbreaks for the New Yorker before retiring?
(a) Fifty six years.
(b) Thirty six years.
(c) Forty six years.
(d) Twenty six years.

11. What is the main reason why White is still at the New Yorker in 1956?
(a) Because of the death of Gus Lobrano.
(b) Because Katharine is there.
(c) Because of the income he is generating.
(d) Because he enjoys the work.

12. Who is Ursula Nordstrom?
(a) A former Harper's coworker of White.
(b) The owner of Harper & Brothers.
(c) A former New Yorker coworker of White.
(d) The editor at Harper & Brothers.

13. In a May, 1952 letter, how does White describe the goose on the cover of "Charlotte's Web"?
(a) Uncharacteristically bird-like.
(b) Uncharacteristically excited.
(c) Suspiciously sad.
(d) Suspiciously serpentine.

14. Based on White's input to a book on the New Yorker, from which magazines was Ross trying to make the New Yorker different?
(a) Neither Life nor Harper's.
(b) Life.
(c) Harper's.
(d) Life and Harper's.

15. How many letters of condolence does White receive after Katharine's passing?
(a) Four hundred.
(b) Three hundred.
(c) Two hundred.
(d) Over five hundred.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does White state in the official "letter from the author" that a child receives when writing to him?

2. Why is Katharine hospitalized in 1952?

3. Which colleges are included in the list that White mentions as receiving portions of Katharine's books?

4. When does a new printing for "Charlotte's Web" begin?

5. According to his humorous memo to Ross, at which symposium did White decline to speak?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 532 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample