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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. In Chapter 13, the author is beginning to find a balance in her thinking about nature. What is that balance?

3. What is the "Principle of Indeterminacy?"

4. What could happen if the caribou migrate out of the Eskimo's range?

5. What does Dillard believe the flood shows about nature?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Dillard feel about harming creatures? What are some of the incidents from her childhood that helped formed these ideas? Do you agree with her? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Dillard questions why insects seem so violent. She includes numerous examples and personal observations illustrating what seems to be violent behavior in insects. Describe some of her examples, including the insect's specific behavior and Dillard's thoughts when writing about the insect. Do you agree with Dillard's assessment? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Describe some of the scenes Dillard writes of from winters in her past. What had she observed that was cruel? What that was compassionate? Do you think winter lends itself more to cruel behavior than kindness? Why?

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This section contains 329 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample