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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. In Chapter 8, "The Pinnace," what new bird does the family add to their flock?

2. What kind of animals are Turk and Juno?

3. When Elizabeth learns that they are alone on the ship, what is her response?

4. At the end of Chapter 5, "A New Home," what does Elizabeth say about another trip to the shipwreck?

5. In Chapter 8, "The Pinnace," what creature causes a coconut to nearly hit Ernest?

Short Essay Questions

1. When the narrator finds the karatas plant, what does he ask Ernest, and what does his motivation for the question seem to be?

2. When the narrator and Fritz go exploring for the first time and are walking through the grass, what animal surprises them, and how do they react?

3. When the narrator wakes Ernest early, what is his reasoning, and how does Ernest respond?

4. What jobs does Elizabeth take on from the time of the shipwreck onward?

5. When the children are told of the decision to move to the grove of trees, what is their response and what is it an allusion to?

6. In Chapter 7, "Bread," what does the reader learn about the mission of the ship, and why is this so fortunate for the family?

7. On the second morning, why are the dogs afraid of Fritz, and how does he win them over?

8. When Fritz shoots the margay, how does Ernest react, and what does the narrator tell him?

9. How does the family observe their first Sabbath together?

10. In Chapter 7, "Bread," what happens as a result of Ernest's discovery of manioc root?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Readers often react negatively to the variety of animal-based foods that the family eats while on the island. How much of this reaction is cultural? Write an essay in which you discuss the likely response of a European audience of the early nineteenth century, using internet research to support your claims about what Europeans of this time were accustomed to eating and what their attitude to novel food sources would likely have been. Be sure to cite your sources in MLA format.

Essay Topic 2

Choose a chapter of the book to evaluate for its scientific accuracy. Consider both the events and the dialogue--use the internet to investigate whether the things that happen and the scientific principles that the characters discuss are or are not accurate. Be sure to cite your sources in MLA format.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay in which you evaluate the consistency of the narrator's attitudes toward his various children. Use specific textual evidence to argue that he either does or does not treat his sons equally and have consistent expectations for them.

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