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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 find when he climbs the staircase?

2. About what does Jared think concerning mystical creatures?

3. What does Jared think is possible about the book?

4. What does Jared think he is dealing with as far as what attacked Mallory?

5. What has strange words from newspaper clippings?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What wakes Jared in the morning, where does he run, what does he see and who else is there with him?

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

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

5. What does Jared ultimately find in the trunk?

6. How does Jared answer the accusations, what does Simon believe and what does Jared's mother do to Jared?

7. What does Jared point out in the kitchen and what happens to his evidence?

8. 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?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 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

The Field Guide is the first book in a series, called the Spiderwick series. Discuss the following.

1. Discuss two advantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters and having the plot continue from one book to the next. Use examples.

2. Discuss two disadvantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters and having the plot continue from one book to the next. Use examples.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or books in a series with the same main characters? Explain your response.

4. Do you think it is easier or more difficult (or about the same) to write a standalone book versus one in a series? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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