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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 Omakayas want to do with the bear cubs?

2. How many people do the voyageurs find alive in a village one day?

3. What treat does Old Tallow give to Omakayas?

4. What is Deydey especially pleased with when he comes home?

5. Who is left alone to watch over an abundant harvest of berries?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is life different for the family when Deydey is home?

2. What are some of the things that the family does to prepare for winter?

3. What is significant about Omakayas' encounter with the bears?

4. What are Omakayas' conflicted feelings about Angeline?

5. What do the birds foreshadow in the book?

6. Why is Omakayas' relationship with Tallow such an important one?

7. How do Mama and Nokomis differ in their views of sending Omakayas on a spiritual quest?

8. Describe what happens when Pinch eats too many berries and then blames it on Andeg.

9. Who are Omakayas and Nokomis and what are they doing as Chapter 1 begins?

10. What does the dizzy spell signify for Omakayas?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE is a classic coming-of-age story. What does that classification entail? Why does this book fit into this category?

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Nokomis. What did she look like? What were her positive personality traits? What were her dreams and fears? What was most valuable to her in her world?

Essay Topic 3

The author used more than one iteration on the theme of loss. Identify at least two examples about loss in the book and then explain why the examples support the theme.

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