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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. Why did Jondalar give away half the fish?

2. What did Jondalar think of naming the colt?

3. What did Jondalar have to prove to himself before he would mate Serenio?

4. What did Jondalar tell himself regarding Ayla?

5. Who had been killed in an earthquake?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Ayla become so upset?

2. Why did Ayla leave Whinney?

3. What did Thonolan learn from Jetamio?

4. What was Jondalar's outburst regarding, and what was the reason for it?

5. What did Jondalar say about Ayla's donii?

6. What adaptive techniques allowed the chamois to cling to rocks?

7. What did Jondalar consider about Ayla, and what brought about this decision?

8. What was the hardest concept for Jondalar to comprehend regarding the flatheads?

9. How did Dolando view flatheads and why did this shock Jondalar?

10. What innovation did Ayla make since Whinney had returned and what was the reason for this innovation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Jondalar's gradual change in perception regarding the flatheads. What likely finished the transitional process between animals to humans in Jondalar's mind, and what outside source responsible for this shift? What does this change in perception foreshadow what will occur later on?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Ayla's relationship with Baby. How does it differ from her relationship to the horse? What was important about this relationship, and how did it serve Ayla later? What role does Baby play in the plot development?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the frequent innovation done by the characters throughout the novel. Was innovation likely to occur so fast? Why or why not? What kinds of situations would lead to innovative ways to solve a problem? How is Ayla's behavior indicative of this?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,072 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample