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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. How does Cosimo's mother communicate with him?

2. What is Cosimo's reply about running with the boy gang?

3. Why does Cosimo believe olive trees are great for climbing?

4. Why is Biagio worried about Cosimo the night his father spoke with him?

5. What does Cosimo tell the townspeople?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Biagio mourn in chapter four?

2. What does Battista do to make Cosimo come home and what is the result of her action?

3. What does Cosimo tell Viola about a decision and what happens when he tells her?

4. What does Cosimo tell Biagio about their uncle's activities and what does he want to do about them?

5. Describe the discussion about trees that takes place at the beginning of chapter ten.

6. Why does Cosimo begin writing to authors of books he likes?

7. What do the brigands around town do about Gian de Brughi being in hiding?

8. Why does the Cavlier slip off the Baron's land occasionally and how does Cosimo help him?

9. How does the Count who visits the family feel about Cosimo's choice?

10. How does Cosimo's mother and father try to get him to come down from the trees and what does Biagio do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Baron, has lost hope that his eldest son, Cosimo, will follow exactly the path of nobility he hoped he would.

1. Cosimo is obviously not doing what his father wants him to do. Do you think this makes him a bad child? Why or why not?

2. If your mother or father wanted you to enter a career field you didn't want, what would you do? How would you tell your parent?

3. Do you think children should have as much freedom at Cosimo's age as he does? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The Generalessa has gotten over her initial panic, and she and the Baron decide to take a nonchalant stroll through the garden so they might ignore Cosimo and thereby antagonize him out of the trees.

1. Why do you think Cosimo's parents believe he will come down from the trees because of this behavior? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Do you think Cosimo's parents are irresponsible for leaving him in the tree all night? Why or why not?

3. What would you do if you were Cosimo's parents?

Essay Topic 3

In the trees, he and the boys are quite able to exist as equals, on the ground the boys return to sad, filthy places to be scolded and beaten by mothers who refuse to feed them if they have not been able to steal enough to feed themselves. This is the beginning of social awareness in young Cosimo.

1. How do you think Cosimo's beliefs about the world changes when he follows the boys home? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Why do you think a rich boy like Cosimo has never seen or known how poor people live? Do you think this situation exist today? Why or why not?

3. How do you think wealthy people in the United States might change if they lived in the poorer part of town for a year?

(see the answer keys)

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