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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 kind of wallpaper was in some of the house?

2. What kind of job does Jared think Simon will do when he grows up?

3. Where did he get the animals in question #36?

4. What was the Graces' previous home?

5. What do the Grace children claim about their book?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Simon do first in his new bedroom?

2. What does Jared see the first night when he is startled awake?

3. What does Jared think about on his brother and sister's future and his own while he stands in front of his new home?

4. What does Mallory say about their new home, why does Jared think it will be good for Simon and what does he think of the home as far as he is concerned?

5. What does their mother make Mallory do with the dumbwaiter and how can Jared see where he is?

6. What do the children think about who might be in the wall and what does Mallory hear in the dumbwaiter?

7. What does Jared see when he gets out of the dumbwaiter?

8. What does Mallory tell their mother they are doing and what does Mallory say about Jared?

9. What happens as the dumbwaiter approaches the second floor?

10. What does the poem that Jared found contain and what does he hear as he is thinking about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss The Field Guide based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1, and then judge if The Field Guide is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the fact that The Field Guide is part of a series changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Field Guide is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of The Field Guide. Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of The Field Guide. How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in The Field Guide? Which theme in The Field Guide speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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