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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 Mendel's experience with hawkweeds?

2. What is the house like before the children are grown?

3. What does Otto Leiniger do in 1931?

4. How is Linnaeus' health at the beginning of the story?

5. Which of Linnaeus' students has been most faithful about writing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Tati, also known as Anton Vaculik, Antonia's grandfather.

2. What does Linnaeus remember about Rotheram?

3. What is remarkable about Thunberg?

4. How do Jonathan and Ruby act when they are together after their first real conversation?

5. What does Linnaeus think as he is leaving Hammarby?

6. When do Jonathan and Ruby really notice each other for the first time?

7. Describe the late years in Mendel's career.

8. What does Tati see when he scales the monastery walls outside of Brno?

9. What does Antonia tell Richard when they are dating?

10. What happens when Tati sees Antonia and Leiniger together in the greenhouse?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How are lay people different from scientists? Are their human relationships different from the human relationships scientists have? Cite examples from three stories.

Essay Topic 2

How are plants and animals described in the stories? What roles do they play in the drama being played out among the characters? Using examples from three of the stories, describe how plants and animals figure in Barrett's book.

Essay Topic 3

Characters devote a great deal of attention to their studies in these stories. What exactly do they hope to gain? What satisfaction do they get from the work? Cite examples from three stories.

(see the answer keys)

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