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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 bothers Ivan about the ashtray sold in a nearby mall store?

2. Why does Mack bring Ivan buckets of paint?

3. What does Stella find in George's shirt pocket?

4. According to Ivan, what is a silverback's job?

5. Who bought Ivan and raised him like a human baby?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does George place his job in danger in order to help Ivan?

2. How does Ivan's appearances at the mall as a young gorilla compare to his experiences at the mall as an adult gorilla?

3. According to Ivan, how are young gorillas and young humans alike?

4. How does Helen's painting inspire Ivan and what were the consequences of Ivan's attempt to create refrigerator art?

5. How does Ruby's curious and questioning nature affect Ivan?

6. How does Ivan convince George and Julia to post his sign on the mall billboard?

7. How did Mack treat Ivan when the gorilla was young?

8. Why does Mack delay in calling a vet for Stella?

9. How does Ivan react to Ruby's first solo act in Mack's show?

10. What is the story of Jambo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain what Stella’s story about Jambo reveals about gorillas. How do many humans view gorillas? According to Stella’s story, how do gorillas view humans? Based on what you have read in the book, how does Ivan view humans?

Essay Topic 2

Part of Ivan’s story is told through flashbacks. What event prompts Ivan to begin to remember his past? What does Ivan remember? How do these memories affect the decisions he makes?

Essay Topic 3

How do Ivan’s emotions change throughout the course of the book? What do you think causes this change? Why do you think the picture of the angry gorilla on the mall billboard bothers Ivan? Do you think Ivan changes his mind about gorillas and anger? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,342 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample