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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. How does Mafatu feel about the sea?

2. What does Mafatu's mother decide to do?

3. Why is Mafatu relegated to the shoreline?

4. How does Mafatu's mother respond to the fishermen?

5. How does Mafatu feel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mafatu think about his father?

2. What happens during the first major storm?

3. What does Mafatu resolve to do this year?

4. How is Mafatu treated?

5. What happens that foreshadows a larger storm?

6. For what are the boys preparing?

7. What happens to Mafatu and his companions during the second major storm?

8. How does Mafatu and his mother end up in danger?

9. How does Mafatu struggle through the day?

10. Where does Mafatu head?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mafatu is very self-sufficient.

Part 1) How is he self-sufficient? What can one learn about Mafatu's culture through his self-sufficiency?

Part 2) How does this new independence and knowledge both help and hurt him?

Part 3) Do you believe that people in our modern culture are self-sufficient? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Mafatu finds time to act like a child during his journey.

Part 1) How does he act like a child? What does this say about his character?

Part 2) What do his childlike actions remind the reader about this character?

Part 3) Why might the author have made Mafatu act like a child on this island? What is his purpose?

Essay Topic 3

Mafatu endures many struggles during his journey.

Part 1) How does he struggle on the canoe? How does he overcome these struggles?

Part 2) How doe she struggle on the island? How does he overcome these struggles?

Part 3) How do these trials and tribulations change his character?

Part 4) Could he have made these personal changes without going on this adventure? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 873 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample