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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 Evelyn tell Ned about an abandoned house?

2. What has gone from Mr. Scully's house?

3. What does Ned find as he sits at his secret place and looks out at the countryside?

4. What does Ned know about Mr. Scully and the man's house?

5. Where is Ned spending a great deal of time after he recovers?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Ned and his mother see playing by the light of the moon and then what arrives?

2. What does Ned learn from Mama about Mrs. Scallop and Mr. Scully?

3. What does Ned's father notice as Ned and he are trimming the Christmas tree and what happens?

4. What changes take place for the Kimball family?

5. Where is Mr. Scully taken and what is probably wrong with him?

6. About what does Ned open up and talk to his mama?

7. Where is one place Uncle Hilary suggests he and Ned might want to visit on Christmas break?

8. After he recovers from his illness, where does Ned often go and what does he do there?

9. What does Ned learn about the Makepeace mansion?

10. What will Mr. Willis start doing for Mr. Scully and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast Ned at the beginning of the novel to Ned at the end of the novel. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they both sympathetic characters? Which "Ned" would you most like to have as a friend? Why? Is each one believable? Why or why not.

2. Compare/contrast Evelyn at the beginning of the novel to Evelyn at the end of the novel. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why? Is each one believable? Why or why not.

3. Compare/contrast Ned to Billy. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why? Is each one believable? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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