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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 does Cosimo tell Viola the next time he sees her?

2. How does the Count that visits feel about Cosimo's life?

3. Why is Cosimo curious about the thieve, Gian de Brughi?

4. Why does the Cavalier sneak off the Baron's land sometimes?

5. Who sneaks out and covers Cosimo's tree with glue?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the burglars do to Cosimo?

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

3. Why is Cosimo curious about Gian de Brughi?

4. Who is Sinforosa?

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

6. What does Biagio mourn in chapter four?

7. What do Cosimo's parents want to know about the men Cosimo enlisted for his project?

8. What does Cosimo's father request of him when he goes out to see him?

9. How does Cosimo's mother feel by the evening about Cosimo still being in the trees?

10. How does Cosimo's first encounter with the fruit thieves happen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Cosimo's relationship with his mother has ended happily in spite of many problems earlier. Cosimo had time to know his mother as an adult and to be comfortable with her before her death. He was able to resolve differences and say good-bye. Often people don't have this opportunity.

1. Why do you think it was important and helpful for Cosimo to spend so much time with his mother in her last weeks? Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

2. Cosimo had the opportunity to spend time with his mother, though it appears he did not have that with his father. Write a letter from Cosimo to his father saying what you think he might say based on the Cosimo you've seen in the past twenty chapters.

Essay Topic 2

Cosimo holds ideals with more fervor than he does love.

1. What do you think is meant by this statement? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. What ideal that you hold means so much to you that you would give up love for it? Why or why not would you do that?

3. Do you think beliefs are worth giving up love for? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

While Cosimo never tries, he lives with an unapologetic conviction that life can be lived fully, selflessly, even nobly, in unbroken communion with nature.

1. What do you think this statement means? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. Do you think people in America today could live the kind of life Cosimo envisions, though not necessarily living in trees? Why or why not?

3. How do you think life in modern American would be different if most people believed the way Cosimo does?

(see the answer keys)

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