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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 is Dr. Dorian?

2. What does Templeton do with the last egg?

3. What damage does Wilbur cause outside his fence?

4. Why does the goose say the last egg didn't hatch?

5. Why does Mrs. Arable say Mr. Arable is probably right to kill the pig?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Fern goes rigid on her stool one time while visiting with the barn animals?

2. How does the web of relationships between Wilbur, Charlotte, and Fern shift at the end of Chapter 7?

3. How observant is Lurvy when it comes to Wilbur, and how can you tell?

4. How does Mr. Arable help Wilbur become a little more independent?

5. What kind of a father is Mr. Arable described as being?

6. Why does Wilbur have so much trouble sleeping at the beginning of Chapter 5?

7. How does Mrs. Arable feel about all the time Fern is spending in the barn?

8. What is most remarkable about Wilbur's daily routine?

9. What is the relationship like between Fern and the animals at the beginning of Chapter 8?

10. Are the goose and the gander more sentimental or more practical? Why do you think as you do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How can Charlotte's webs be thought of as both a symbol of life and a symbol of death? Be sure to explain how the things they symbolize affect the meaning of the narrative and to use specific examples from the text to back up your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Who is the protagonist of the story: Wilbur, Charlotte, or both? Think about what it means to be the protagonist of a story and support your thesis with specific examples and details from the story.

Essay Topic 3

Evaluate how Wilbur's position in the barn changes over the course of the story, including discussions of incidents such as the goose convincing Wilbur to "escape," Wilbur's interactions with the other animals while seeking a friend, Wilbur's actions during various important barnyard events, and how Wilbur is spending his days at the close of the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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