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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. In "Forest," what scent comes from the thing that Neftali collects on his way to school?

2. In "Mud," how long does it rain?

3. How long has Neftali been avoiding his father in "Pinecone"?

4. What does Neftali notice on the ground after the teacher rings the bell for classes in "Wind"?

5. In "Pinecone," who is Neftali not able to answer when she greets him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What conversation do Jose and Rudoflo have about Rudolfo's singing?

2. What distracts Neftali on the way to school in "Wind"?

3. Where does Neftali find himself swept to in his imagination when rain comes in through the window?

4. What does Rodolfo say about Father and his demands in "Mud"?

5. Where if Neftali and what is he doing at the beginning of "Rain"?

6. In "Rain," how does Neftali forget himself and see himself when Mamadre reads to him?

7. In "Tree," why do the workers laugh and Father get embarrassed when Neftali returns to the train after exploring in the forest?

8. What does Father say about Neftali's future, and how does Neftali feel about his father's vision for him in "Forest"?

9. In "Rain," what does Neftali realize he should be doing as he looks out the window?

10. How is the pinecone describe that Neftali finds in "Tree"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Stanzas of a poem called I Am Poetry are found at the beginning of the novel and on pages 76, 137, and 238. What does the poem communicate about poetry? What does it reveal about the writing that Neftali does?

Essay Topic 2

Neftali is rejected by his father and other boys. How is Neftali rejected by his father? How is he rejected by other boys? How does the rejection affect Neftali emotionally and physically?

Essay Topic 3

Conflicts between characters are often caused by a problem. What are some conflicts that occur in the novel? Are the conflicts in the book mostly man vs. man, man vs. nature, or man vs. self? Are they internal or external conflicts?

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This section contains 920 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample