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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. Where is Viola sent when she leaves home?

2. Why do the boys' mothers get upset with them?

3. What does his uncle do when the pirates beginning running away?

4. What does Cosimo tell Viola the next time he sees her?

5. What do the fruit boys learn from Cosimo?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Cosimo stay warm in the trees in the winter?

3. What does Cosimo do when he sees the pirates unloading the boats and what happens as a result of his actions?

4. Why does Cosimo talk with the Abbe so much and what happens as the result?

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

6. Why is Cosimo curious about Gian de Brughi?

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

8. What do the burglars do to Cosimo?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Cosimo and his father come to an agreement that allows for the continuing of Cosimo's education because the Baron is finally willing to approach his son like a free-thinking individual whose agreement is needed in order to know how to proceed.

1. What is the difference between a parent who respects a child as a free-thinking individual and one who doesn't?

2. Do you think Cosimo is old enough to be seen as a free-thinking individual? Why or why not?

3. What do you think are some of the ways a parent can demonstrate that they see their child as a free-thinking individual rather than simply an extension of the parent?

Essay Topic 2

Biagio wants all the more to assure Cosimo of his loyalty despite his remaining on the ground, and so agrees to supply him with everything he requires to set up a more permanent dwelling in the trees.

1. Why do you think Biagio is not joining his brother in the trees? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Do you think Biagio is right or wrong for making it easier for his brother to remain in the trees? Why or why not?

3. What do you think of Cosimo's attempts to pressure his younger brother into helping him?

Essay Topic 3

The most valuable lesson Cosimo learns from the eccentric recluse, the Cavalier, is the importance of guarding himself against the loneliness to which his recent trend toward isolation might possibly lead.

1. Why do you think Cosimo might learn this lesson from the Cavalier? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. How are the Cavalier and Cosimo similar and dissimilar in their interactions with other people? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

3. In what ways do you think loneliness would happen in Cosimo's life?

(see the answer keys)

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