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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. What is Thomas classified as when he starts school?

2. Who is Charlie?

3. Of what does the thing hanging from the fence remind Thomas?

4. How does Thomas feel towards Molly when he see her on Christmas Eve?

5. What is one way that Molly is different when the boys see her on Christmas Eve?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where do they bury Bertha and why kind of funeral does she receive?

2. How does Big Joe feel about food and what is his favorite food?

3. What is the story of the harvest mouse?

4. How does Thomas and Charlie get rid of the food they do not like?

5. What does Thomas remember about his first day of school?

6. How do Charlie and Thomas thwart Grandma Wolf's attempts to get rid of the mice?

7. How does Thomas' father die?

8. What does Charlie do when he sees Thomas in a fight with Jimmy Parsons and what happens to the boys who are fighting?

9. Why is Thomas glad to be working at the same farm as Charlie?

10. What happens when Thomas and Charlie arrive at school on Thomas' first day of school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by Private Peaceful. Questions that Morpurgo most likely wants readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Morpurgo' agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Morpurgo' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Morpurgo and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

Essay Topic 2

The men and officer of the firing squad do not want to kill Charlie, but they know their orders. After Charlie's death, everyone mourns him. Thomas is glad to find that Sergeant Hanley was killed, but his happiness is short lived. That horrible man has finally gotten what they all felt that he deserved, but Thomas is upset that it came too late to save Charlie. He hopes that Charlie knows that Hanley is dead, as it might give him a slight comfort. After saying good bye to his brother for the last time, Thomas feels as if a part of him has died with Charlie.

1. Do you think the men in the firing squad should have obeyed the order to kill Charlie? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and Private Peaceful to support your answer.

2. Do you think Hanley being killed was a just exchange for the sergeant basically being responsible for Charlie's death? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and Private Peaceful to support your answer.

3. What do you think is the difference between socialization in the early 1900s and the present time that a soldier would be shot and killed for disobeying a dangerous and stupid order? Use examples from your own life and Private Peaceful to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character and wonder if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Private Peaceful help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Private Peaceful? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in Private Peaceful to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

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