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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 Jared take outside of the house?

2. Who turns on the light in the kitchen while Jared is waiting?

3. What does Jared's mother have him do?

4. What does Simon believe about Jared?

5. What does a note say that the children find?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jared's mother say to him about his anger?

2. What does Jared ask Mallory about her hair and what are Mallory's private doubts?

3. Why does Jared decide to go downstairs and what does he do in the kitchen?

4. What does Simon speculate to Jared about Mallory's situation and what does Jared say to him? How does Simon react to Jared's suggestion?

5. What phrase is Jared thinking about in the poem, and where does he decide to go?

6. What is the most upsetting thing about the problems downstairs and what does Jared's mother accuse him of concerning Simon's mice?

7. What does Jared ask their mother about Arthur and what is her reply?

8. How does Mrs. Grace feel when she wakes up Jared in the morning and what does she show him?

9. What does Jared do with the black plastic garbage bag and what does he see inside it?

10. How does Jared's mother feel about him going to the attic?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Characters are an important part of what makes The Field Guide interesting. Discuss the following "good" characters:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Jared. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Simon. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Mallory. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

4. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Lucinda. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Jared is no exception. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Jared demonstrates his intelligence and courage. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Jared's character flaws offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion.

3. Discuss how you think Jared's admirable traits makes him able to help with many of the problems the children face. Have his flaws impacted his life? Do any of his siblings notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

(see the answer keys)

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