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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 are the symptoms of hydrophobia?

2. Why is Bud Searcy left behind when all the men drive the cattle to Abilene?

3. What does Arliss start catching after Old Yeller arrives?

4. What does Mama make Arliss take out of his pockets before he goes to bed?

5. How does Travis finally shoot the turkey that he wounded in the pea garden?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Old Yeller's appearance.

2. Describe the bad news that Travis and his family get after taming Spot.

3. Summarize how Old Yeller controls the heifer, Spot.

4. What is the news that Bud Searcy brings to Mama on his visit?

5. What is the reaction of Little Arliss and Mama to the big dog?

6. What does Tavis do when the bulls start fighting near the cabin?

7. Explain the disturbing news that Lisbeth gives to Travis.

8. Summarize the time Travis meets Old Yeller for the first time.

9. Explain what Old Yeller does to save Little Arliss from certain death.

10. Describe Little Arliss' reaction to Burn Sanderson's news.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1) Analyze the impact of the Civil War on the American economy as described in the novel.

2) What result does this economy have on the lives of Papa, Travis, Mama, and Little Arliss?

3) Predict how different their lives would have been if the war had not affected the economy.

Essay Topic 2

1) Analyze the resolution of the story as it relates to each of the characters in the novel.

2) Explain the metamorphosis each of them experiences in the final chapter.

3) Describe how Papa's words," A man can't afford to waste the good parts of life, worrying about the bad parts. That makes it all bad..." relate to Travis, Little Arliss, and Mama.

Essay Topic 3

1) Discuss how Travis grows as a character from the beginning of the novel to the end.

2) How does his attitude change toward Old Yeller?

3) How does his attitude change about what is important in his life?

4) What are the differences in his attitude toward the meaning of responsibility in the beginning to the end of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 715 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample