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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 do the kittens drink after their mother goes missing?

2. Who primarily trades with the East for rhubarb?

3. Who did Mary's husband leave his money to in his will?

4. What does Marion make for Ben when she learns he will move forward with his class?

5. What is Fitzwarren's policy in his business?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the Lady say to the other animals after the attack by the predator?

2. What does the cat's former owner say when Dick Whittington offers to share his fortune?

3. What advice does Bernie tell Ben that the principal gave?

4. What is Ben's plan to stay with his class?

5. What proposition does Sir Louis have for Dick?

6. Why does Don think the special ed reading program might be good for Ben?

7. What does Dick do in memory of his cat after the cat disappears?

8. What causes the ship to turn back after reaching Palermo?

9. What effect do the bells have on Dick as he heads down the river to try to see Mary?

10. Why is Dick's cat allowed to come home to Dick?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Storytelling is an important aspect of the novel. Discuss storytelling and its role in the novel.

1) How does Whittington's storytelling affect the novel? How does his storytelling affect the characters in the barn, as well as Ben and Abby?

2) How and why do other characters tell stories, including the other animals in the barns? What role do these stories play in the novel?

3) What is the history of storytelling that brings Dick Whittington's stories to Whittington? Why is it significant?

Essay Topic 2

The characters in the novel have different types of adventures. Discuss the role of adventure in the novel.

1) What kinds of adventures does Dick Whittington have in the novel? What do the characters learn from Dick Whittington's adventures?

2) What types of adventures do the animals in the barn have? How are their adventures different from the stories about Dick Whittington?

3) What role do adventures play in the novel? How do they contribute to its structure? How do they affect the reader and characters?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss love in the novel.

1) What is Dick Whittington's experience of love? How does he fall in love, and how does love affect him?

2) What different kinds of love are in the novel? How is romantic love different from parental love, the love of siblings, or the love of friendship?

3) What is the Lady's experience of love? How does love affect her?

(see the answer keys)

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