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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is it about weather that Dillard believes is a phenomena worth writing about?
(a) how often the modern weather predictions are wrong
(b) whether ancient people talked about the weather
(c) how often the modern weather predictions are right
(d) talking about the weather is one of seven or eight phenomena worth discussing

2. Why do birds sing?
(a) because they like to hear themselves
(b) to signal to other birds
(c) to praise the sun
(d) scientists really do not know why birds sing

3. Why does Dillard believe humans are vulnerable?
(a) because humans are gullible
(b) because humans are emotionally out of control
(c) because of how easy it is for death to find them
(d) because there is a lot of violence in the world

4. Dillard says the agnostic asks who created the universe. What does a believer ask?
(a) why was the universe created
(b) why am I in the universe
(c) who is God
(d) what role does man play

5. How long can a horsehair worm grow?
(a) up to five feet long
(b) ten to twelve feet
(c) lengths of up to three feet
(d) three yards

6. What does the author say the future is?
(a) a cricket's song on a sultry night
(b) light on the water and a spirit
(c) a wind coming from the east
(d) baby birds who have just hatched

7. What does Dillard find out when she takes her first course in French?
(a) it's more difficult than Spanish
(b) she has no aptitude for languages
(c) she realizes that she will have to learn French word by word
(d) French sounds better than English

8. What does Dillard say about humans and change?
(a) humans believe change is necessary
(b) humans abhor statis
(c) humans hate change
(d) humans believe stability if good

9. In Alaska and northern Canada during winter what is a topic of continual fascination?
(a) the exact day that the ice will break up each spring
(b) if the accumulated snow will reach 20 feet
(c) when the Canadian geese will fly north
(d) if ice fishing is dangerous

10. What does Dillard suggest spring is about?
(a) plants growing
(b) potential
(c) faith
(d) flowers blooming

11. Chlorophyll has a single atom of what substance in the center?
(a) zinc
(b) carbon
(c) hydrogen
(d) magnesium

12. How does Dillard think of Tinker Creek in the first chapter?
(a) as a place that time forgot
(b) that she'd rather live somewhere else
(c) as a scary, mysterious place
(d) as an anchor that keeps her steady in the current of life

13. Why did Xerxes stop the advance of his entire army?
(a) to meditate on the beauty of a sycamore tree
(b) to watch a beautiful sunset
(c) to cut a path through a dense forest
(d) to get ready to attack the Greeks

14. Dillard believes that, with indifference, nature hides what?
(a) butterflies
(b) waterfalls
(c) wonders from the eye
(d) the agony of prey and hunter

15. What is Dillard illustrating in her story about the Polyphemus moth from her childhood?
(a) moths have to spread their weeks when born
(b) kids are cruel
(c) she has a good memory
(d) the indifference humans often exhibit towards the natural world

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Dillard see as a passive mystery?

2. What does Dillard say is the way to tell winter has arrived?

3. She claims the ability to see what is hidden is what?

4. What does Dillard's fascination and stories about praying mantises demonstrate?

5. What does Dillard believe about nature and change?

(see the answer keys)

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