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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 is the cost of the children's freedom?

2. What do the children hear?

3. How would humans be if they knew the secrets in the Field Guild?

4. Who had left the book?

5. Who drew the sketch of their dad that Simon finds?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the children's mother think about them taking a walk and what does each child take on the walk?

2. Why is Jared nervous, what does he ask the three and what is their response?

3. Who is the first of the three beings to speak to the children and what does she say?

4. What did Mallory find that has them all excited and what do they find out about Arthur through her find?

5. How does Helen react to Jared and Mallory fighting in Lucinda's room and what happens to Lucinda?

6. What do the three beings who come through the trees look like?

7. What does Mallory ask Simon about what he brings on the walk and what is his response?

8. What do they ask the rabbit-monkey creature they see and what does he answer? What does Jared decide about him? What does he say when they ask about Arthur?

9. What begins to make the children nervous and what happens as they reach a meadow?

10. What does Simon suggest about Mallory's find and what is her response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Lucinda's Secret help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Lucinda's Secret? Why or why not?

3. Choose one specific incident in Lucinda's Secret to discuss and compare Jared's response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 2

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Jared is no exception. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Jared demonstrates his intelligence and courage. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Jared's character flaws offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion.

3. Discuss how you think Jared's admirable traits makes him able to help with many of the problems the children face. Have his flaws impacted his life? Do any of his siblings notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

Essay Topic 3

Lucinda's Secret is the third book in a series, called the Spiderwick series. Discuss the following.

1. Discuss two advantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters and having the plot continue from one book to the next. Use examples.

2. Discuss two disadvantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters and having the plot continue from one book to the next. Use examples.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or books in a series with the same main characters? Explain your response.

4. Do you think it is easier or more difficult (or about the same) to write a standalone book versus one in a series? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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