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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. Who does most of the cooking and cleaning on the ship?

2. Who gave Sophie her journal?

3. What color is the sky when The Wanderer arrives at Seal Cove?

4. What does the tall, lanky woman say is on Wood Island?

5. When is the expedition planning to set sail?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Uncle Mo.

2. Why does everyone react strangely when Sophie explains what she plans to teach?

3. What chore will Sophie have to take a turn at that she's not looking forward to?

4. Why does Uncle Mo worry while Cody and Sophie are away visiting Wood Island?

5. What does Uncle Dock do, when the fog comes in, and how does it affect Sophie?

6. What does Sophie think of the boat when she first sees it?

7. How do the dolphins act when they come up to the boat?

8. How does The Wanderer look, compared to the other boats in Martha's Vineyard?

9. What story does Sophie tell Cody about a little kid she knows?

10. How did Uncle Dock get his nickname?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss careers in the novel.

1) How do the characters define themselves by their careers? How have Mo and Stew's careers changed them?

2) How does Sophie define herself by what she will be in the future? Why does she imagine different types of lives?

3) How do Sophie, Brian, and Cody view careers differently from each other?

Essay Topic 2

Compare Cody and Brian as characters, and Mo and Stew as similar characters from the previous generation.

1) How are Cody and Mo similar? How are Brian and Stew similar? Is each generation a continuation of the past?

2) Why are Cody and Brian often at odds, just like Mo and Stew? What does this show about the family dynamic?

3) Why does the author choose family members with clear differences to include in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Sophie is a young adolescent as the novel begins, and the journey she takes is part of the process of growing up. Discuss growing up in the novel.

1) How does Sophie grow as a result of her journey? What steps does she take toward becoming an adult?

2) How does Cody grow up as a result of the journey on The Wanderer? How does he change?

3) What have Sophie's uncles lost and gained in the process of growing up? What does Sophie learn about growing up from talking to them?

(see the answer keys)

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