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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. As Neftali brings the swan to the lagoon, how many flamingos does he say that he sees?

2. In "River," where will the family disembark from the train?

3. Besides swans, what birds can Neftali hear in "Lagoon"?

4. How will the family get from the train to a boat in "River"?

5. What has Father decided that Neftali will not study because of his math grades in "Fire"?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "River," what do Neftali and Laurita watch Father, Rodolfo, and Uncle Orlando load for their trip and why?

2. How does the librarian, Augusto, help Neftali find a place to read in "Lagoon"?

3. At the beginning of "Lagoon," what nightmare does Neftali wake from every morning?

4. Why is Uncle Orlando not able to go with the family to the ocean?

5. In "Fire," what happens to Neftali's notebooks and writings?

6. What type of jobs does Neftali do for his uncle when he works at the newspaper office?

7. What distrubing news does Neftali learn from a letter and how does he feel about the news in "Fire"?

8. In "Ocean," who does Neftali make friends with on the boat?

9. In "Lagoon," what does Neftali find behind the cottage that Augusto allows him to use?

10. What does Neftali see when he looks at his uncle after the fire at the newspaper office?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Neftali does not have any friends. What type of friend does Neftali dream of having? How do a toy sheep and a pair of swans become Neftali’s friends and companions? How do they fulfill his need for friendship and companionship?

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

The setting or settings in a book are where the action takes place. Does the setting(s) in the book serve as a backdrop to characters or does it almost take on the role of a character? How does the setting evoke feelings or set the tone in the book?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 913 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample