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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Dillard visualize the present?
(a) as the middle of everything
(b) as a hummingbird that stops for nectar
(c) as a wave that explodes over her head
(d) as a hawk soaring on the breeze

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

3. What causes most insects' behavior?
(a) innate programming
(b) imitating parents
(c) external stimuli
(d) the structure of their exoskeleton

4. Dillard opens this first chapter remembering this animal.
(a) an alligator she saw in the zoo
(b) an old tomcat that she used to have
(c) a robin whose nest fell from the tree
(d) a poodle that lived down the street from her

5. What sport does the author play come spring?
(a) softball
(b) tennis
(c) golf
(d) basketball

6. Why did Dillard name this chapter "Seeing?"
(a) she knows that to discover and understand she must be able to see
(b) because she believes to see she has to understand
(c) because she discusses the loss of sight
(d) because she has found out some blind people regain their sight

7. What does Dillard see as a passive mystery?
(a) if there are fish in the creek
(b) the mountains around her
(c) if nature is benign
(d) if her brother would enjoy life in Tinker Creek

8. One branch of Jewish philosophy believes that part of the responsibility of humans is to do what?
(a) planting trees
(b) to help God by hallowing creation
(c) to experience the moment
(d) stand in for God with the animals

9. How do blind people who suddenly gain sight usually see objects at first?
(a) as black and white
(b) as bigger than they really are
(c) as patches of colored light
(d) as all gray

10. What does the animal in question #1 do to to get Dillard's attention?
(a) meows loudly
(b) bats her leg with his paw
(c) knocks her glasses off onto the floor
(d) jumps in through the open window and climbs on Dillard's chest

11. How are ladybugs shipped to gardeners?
(a) the hibernating bugs are packed in boxes of pine cones
(b) they are shipped in the spring, the nests are shipped in one piece
(c) they are packed in soil and water
(d) captured in nets and sedated with alcohol

12. What does Dillard believe is healing?
(a) soothing music
(b) flowing water
(c) white clouds in blue skies
(d) sunshine

13. How do ladybugs hibernate?
(a) ladybugs hibernate in large masses
(b) ladybugs die off in winter
(c) ladybugs hide beneath the bark on trees
(d) ladybugs hibernate under the roots of trees

14. What does Dillard say is the way to tell winter has arrived?
(a) you can taste winter's arrival on the air
(b) when the creek's water has frozen
(c) when you have to make your first fire
(d) when you see the first snowfall

15. How did Radford, Virginia decide to control their starling problem?
(a) by spraying them with foam, so they would die of exposure
(b) enclosing large nets around their area
(c) bringing in a population of Maine bird cats
(d) putting out poisoned seed

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the analogy she draws between the snake skin and the seasons?

2. What does Dillard say about humans and change?

3. If you remove the answer in question #86 from chlorophyll, you create a molecule of what?

4. What is the translation of trompes-l' esprit ?

5. What does Dillard say hinders people from experiencing the now?

(see the answer keys)

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