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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 did Simon's mother pretend not to notice about what he brought?

2. What kind of dwarves was one book about?

3. What did Jared hear when he stopped walking in the kitchen?

4. What does Mrs. Grace tell Mallory to do?

5. Where did the Graces live before moving to Aunt Lucinda's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the front door of the Graces' new home look like?

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

3. What does Jared recall about the events in his life since his parents' divorce and what does his mother suggest to him about their new home?

4. What does Jared see when he hears a noise and how does he lose his light?

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

6. What does Mallory do to the wall in the kitchen and what does she see?

7. What is the additional worry about the Graces' new home?

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

9. What does the note at the beginning of the book say, and what does the book store clerk give the authors? What is the authors' response?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think The Field Guide is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast Mallory to Jared. How are they alike? How are they different? Do you think their differences are mainly due to their gender differences?

2. Compare/contrast Jared to Simon. How are they alike? How are they different? How do their "world views" differ? Who is the better leader/ruler? Under which one would you rather live?

3. Compare/contrast Simon to Mallory. How are they alike? How are they different? Who is more likable? Approachable? Compassionate? Intellectual?

Essay Topic 3

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of The Field Guide.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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