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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 is the first thing the Lady says when she finally arises from her sleeping place?

2. Where does Ben go to announce he will move forward with his class?

3. What does Miss O'Brian do with the words of Keith's story?

4. What languages has Dick picked up that he plans to use in trading in Palermo?

5. Who wakens the injured animal?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does Ben pet Whittington, and how does Whittington respond?

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

3. What trip does Whittington say he must take?

4. What does the tabby from down the road bring to the barn?

5. What proposition does Sir Louis have for Dick?

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

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

8. What does Mary Green look like?

9. What does Ben think, when he observes the special reading lesson?

10. How does Bernie react to finding the new animals in the barn after the livestock auction?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss conflict in the novel, and how conflicts are resolved.

1) What kinds of conflicts exist between the characters in the novel, such as the conflict between the rats and the barn animals, and between Havey and the Lady? Why do these conflicts exist and how are they resolved?

2) What kinds of internal conflicts exist for the characters? How is Ben conflicted about learning to read? How does he struggle with himself to do what he needs to do to learn? How does Ben resolve his conflict?

3) What conflicts does Dick Whittington face? How are they resolved?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, Ben and Abby are growing up, and the reader also sees Dick Whittington grow up from a small boy to a man. Discuss growing up in the novel.

1) How does Dick grow up in the novel? How does he change as he grows up?

2) How does Ben grow up and get more mature? How does he change, and what does he learn?

3) How do the other characters grow and change in the novel? Do the animals grow up in some ways, similarly to the children?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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