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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 does Mr. Scully say he does regularly now?

2. What emotion seems to be just below the surface of Mrs. Scallop?

3. For whom are the turkey scraps that Ned saves?

4. Who are Evelyn Kimball, Janet Hoffman, and Billy Gaskell?

5. What does Ned refrain from saying to his mother?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Ned and his friends discuss on the way to school and how does Ned make Evelyn feel a little flustered?

2. What does Ned think Mr. Scully needs, and how does Ned feel about that?

3. Where does Uncle Hilary want to take Ned over Christmas vacation and how does Ned initially feel about the idea?

4. What animal do Ned and Mr. Scully watch from the window and what does Ned do for the animal?

5. What has Ned noticed about Mrs. Scallop's underlying emotion and of whom does she remind Ned?

6. What impression does Ned receive on his way back from shooting the rifle and of what does that remind Ned?

7. What does Ned's father instruct Ned about being a guest for supper at the Brewsters, and why does his father say that?

8. Who is the current housekeeper in the Wallis family and how does Ned feel about having a housekeeper?

9. Describe Ned Wallis.

10. How is Ned's birthday celebrated in his classroom?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ned has an acute appreciation for the natural world. This is evidenced by the way the character views his surroundings. Throughout the novel, Ned and the other characters in the story take notice of the weather and the plants and flowers of each season. Discuss the following:

1. How is the nature world presented in "One-Eyed Cat"? Is is hostile? Inviting? Necessary to survival? Appreciated?

2. Discuss three characters and how the natural world impacts their lives. What is each character's attitude towards the natural world? Why do you think each character responds to the natural world the way s/he does?

3. Do you think the natural world would have as much of an impact on a boy going through a similar crisis today as then? Explain fully with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Over the course of the story, Ned grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "One-Eyed Cat" might be considered a slice of Ned's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that the story is a "bildungsroman" of Ned Willis. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Ned as he changes from a carefree, innocent boy to a sadder, but wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Ned?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Ned's growth throughout the book, do you think "One-Eyed Cat" could be considered Ned's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "One-Eyed Cat" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 3

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Ned and other characters are no exceptions. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Ned demonstrates his admirable qualities. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis. Compare those to situations where he demonstrates his less-than-admirable traits.

2. Trace and analyze situations when two other minor protagonists demonstrate his/her admirable qualities. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis. Compare those to situations where s/he demonstrates her less-than-admirable traits.

3. Often the antagonist is a mixture of positive and negative traits (if they are human) or positive and negative aspects if the protagonist is a thing, event, animal, etc... Trace and analyze situations when an antagonist demonstrates positive aspects. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis. Compare those to situations where the antagonist demonstrates less-than-admirable aspects.

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