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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. Dillard believes that "weather overlaps" which causes what?
2. According to Dillard, the "simple" is transformed by evolution into what?
3. Why does the author think nature experiments with insects' shape, form and "niche?"
4. How did Radford, Virginia decide to control their starling problem?
5. Why are starlings hated in the Tinker Creek area?
Short Essay Questions
1. Part of Dillard's struggle in her observation of the natural world is how much violence she seems to encounter. How does she relate this to the Hebrew altar?
2. Dillard recalls what a woman recently told her, "'Seem like we're just set down here...and don't nobody know why."' What do you think this saying means?
3. How does Dillard feel about "shadows?" What does she write to show those feelings?
4. What physics concept does Dillard use to write about observing muskrats? How does she use it?
5. The first section of Chapter 8 is titled, "Intricacy." What might this title mean and how does Dillard's writing change to reflect this?
6. In Chapter 3, what has the reader learned about Dillard's attitude towards living creatures?
7. Describe the two ways of seeing, according to Dillard.
8. Why do you think this chapter could have been titled "Potential?"
9. What story does Dillard tell about a Native American woman and winter?
10. How does Dillard relate parasites to her view of life?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
The present is fleet. One barely glimpses it, and it is gone, Dillard writes. What is the present, according to the author? Why try to stay in it? How does the present compare to the past or the future? Have you ever tried to stay in the moment? Describe one situation when the author tried to stay in the now. Do you think it's possible to stay just in the now? Why or why not?
Essay Topic 2
Dillard often uses stories from the Eskimo culture to help her pull meaning from her observations. Discuss two of the stories Dillard has told from the Eskimo culture and their relevance to some knowledge she was trying to work through.
Essay Topic 3
In chapter fourteen, Dillard wants to go "northing," as a means to pare down to the essence. She will not go "northing" this year, but she will wait where she is and welcome the North wind as it scours the land around her. What do you think she means by wanting to go "northing?" Discuss both the physical aspect and the mystical or spiritual aspect of this term as Dillard uses it.
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This section contains 1,315 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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