View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Jiya do when the family sits at the table to eat?

2. Jiya says that only the __________________ live on the island.

3. What food is Jiya able to eat?

4. Why does Kino's father not allow Jiya to warn his father about the big wave?

5. Kino's family will allow Jiya to be _________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jiya do when he sees the devastation of the big wave?

2. What gift does Setsu offer to Jiya when he is distraught over the loss of his family?

3. What does Kino's father tell him about what the gods do to test men?

4. What experience does Kino have with diving that lets him know why Jiya feels the way he does about the sea?

5. How accurate was Kino's father in describing the stages that Jiya will go through in his healing?

6. What is Kino's father's response when Kino says he doesn't think that Jiya can ever be happy again?

7. What does Kino's father say about every day that comes after the storm?

8. How does Jiya's awe of an angry sea foreshadow what the sea is ultimately capable of?

9. What does Kino's father remind him about that shows that the land, as well as the sea, is also fearsome?

10. What does Kino's father say about Jiya's crying and what the family will do to let him mourn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

THE BIG WAVE is a classic story of loss and renewal. What does that classification entail? Why does this book fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the role of the family in the story What does it mean for some of the characters? How does the family evolve in its support of each other? What constitutes a family? Does Jiya make the right family choice for himself? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of the Old Gentleman. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him--if anything--at this point in his life?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 875 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample