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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 name of Mr. Rington's dog?

2. What kind of dog does Andrew Vine own?

3. The date 1666 is carved in stone above the front door of the farm. What happened on that date that the student remembers?

4. What does Herriot's flying instructor say is "very good indeed, really masterly" about Herriot's first solo flight?

5. Which farmer who James visits to treat one of the animals has a very soft voice, almost a whisper?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the names of the two dogs who are inseparable friends, what are their breeds and what happens to them?

2. What happens to the little stray dog that James and Siegfried observe begging in the marketplace?

3. Who is Judy and what is extraordinary about her?

4. Who are Andrew Vine and Digger and what happens to them?

5. What happens when David, a student considering becoming a veterinarian, goes on rounds with James?

6. Describe Mr. Mount and his relationship with Tristan.

7. When James is grounded in the R.A.F. what job do they give him?

8. Describe James' visit to the Blackburn cow farm.

9. What does James remember from his childhood about how he spent every weekend from Easter to October?

10. What is James' relationship with the Ministry of Agriculture?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1) Describe foot and mouth disease. Why was it so feared? Which one of the farmers in the book had animals that got the disease?

2) Why did James think the Mrs. Bailey;s cow had foot and mouth disease? What did the cow actually have? How did it get the condition?

3) Who is Mr. Daggett? Did you like the character. Why? or Why not?

Choose two of the topics to write on.

Essay Topic 2

1) Herriot mentions a number of times in his book his opinion of women. Do you remember his comments about women? Describe some of them. Did he regard women highly? Do you think he understood women? How close do you think he was to his wife? Explain why you think that.

2) Describe James Herriot's writing style. What did you like about the way he wrote his book? Are there any things about his writing style that you would criticize? What are they?

3) Of all the dogs you can remember from the book, which one was your favorite? Tell which one and why it was your favorite.

Choose two of the three topics to write on..

Essay Topic 3

1) Who is Mr. Mount? Describe him. Why is Tristan eager to please him? What is the impression Tristan makes on Mr. Mount? Why?

2) Tell the story of the two dogs, Jingo and Skipper. What breeds are they? What is their relationship to one another? What happens?

3) Describe the Birtwhistle family and their odd behavior.

Choose two of the three topics to write on.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 878 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample