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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Chapter 13, Dillard quotes Van Gogh. What did she quote?
(a) life is not pretty
(b) life is not art
(c) it's important to see
(d) the important thing is to breathe

2. How long does the migration of monarchs continue?
(a) a week
(b) five days
(c) a month
(d) most of the fall

3. What does Dillard think the butterflies smell like?
(a) snow
(b) honeysuckle
(c) Tinker Creek
(d) fall leaves

4. What does the principle of indeterminacy invalidate?
(a) that light travels in a circle
(b) that hummingbirds can sit still
(c) the notion of cause and effect
(d) that the moon causes the tides

5. What principle has lead many physicists to mysticism?
(a) the answer to question 44
(b) the answer to question #128
(c) the answer to question 67
(d) the theory of relativity

6. What is the muskrat young called?
(a) a baby
(b) a kit
(c) a kitten
(d) a puppy

7. What does Dillard say about the muskrat fur?
(a) it's smelly when wet
(b) they are the most popular fur animal in North America
(c) it tends to be spotty
(d) it's thin and of little use

8. The previous year, what did Hurricane Agnes do in the area?
(a) dumped enormous amounts of rain
(b) wiped out all the flowers in the area
(c) blew a tree down on top of Dillard's cabin
(d) it missed the area, so it did nothing

9. Believing natural disasters were sent by God is an example of what?
(a) not having a good science background
(b) not understanding God
(c) having faith
(d) applying a spiritual interpretation to a natural phenomenon

10. Dillard believes that if she waits patiently with no anticipation of what is to come, this will happen.
(a) she will see any animal she wants to see
(b) she will be enlightened
(c) she will be at peace
(d) when something does come, it will bowl her over

11. What does the author believe about the difference between abundant plant life and abundant insect life?
(a) insects will always outnumber plants
(b) plants would be more abundant without insects
(c) the proliferation of plant life, does not disturb humans the way an overabundance of insects do
(d) abundant insect life is healthier for the earth

12. What serves as a catalyst to ready the birds for migration?
(a) the leaves turning colors
(b) catepillers making cocoons
(c) lack of flowers in the landscape
(d) the fall air

13. What does the author think about the price of fish?
(a) fish are free for anyone to gather from the waters
(b) they're a cheap source of protein
(c) the price is high due to overfishing
(d) they cost more than beef

14. What does Dillard believe the flood shows about nature?
(a) it's destructive
(b) the effusiveness of creation
(c) nature doesn't like humans
(d) nature can't be controlled

15. What is necessary in order for the the gooseneck barnacle to reproduce?
(a) it must find a wrecked ship not more than one-half mile down
(b) it must find water of an exact salinity
(c) it must find a certain type of seaweed to cling to
(d) it must find any piece of debris to cling to in the middle of the ocean

Short Answer Questions

1. How much impact on any of the creatures, mountains, or creek around her does the author think she has?

2. After the butterflies finally leave, how does the sky seem to the author?

3. In Chapter 14, what have arrived in swarm from the Hudson Bay area?

4. When Dillard comes upon a rooting acorn, she imagines what?

5. Dillard believes that few humans have been as cruel as what, in the natural world?

(see the answer keys)

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