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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 men stay behind to protect the cave?

2. Why does Brun reprimand Broud?

3. What does Ayla do that makes Creb bond with her?

4. What does Brun do when Broud finally decides to rebuke Ayla for her insolence?

5. What does Iza make for Ayla, meaning that Ayla will become one of the clan?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the clan traveling?

2. What do the clan members believe about how babies are conceived?

3. Why are Brun and Broud and their mates relieved when they return to the cave?

4. What is the problem with Ayla forcing Brun to accept her child?

5. How does Ayla finally begin to understand the clan language?

6. What is Creb's unique ability?

7. Why does the medicine woman have status of her own, regardless of her mate?

8. What did Ayla realize when she kills the porcupine?

9. Brun wants Iza to leave the girl. Why?

10. What does everyone talk about instead?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What role do the totem spirits play in the lives of the clan? How do their beliefs regarding the spirits affect their acceptance of Ayla? How does Ayla challenge their beliefs? Write an essay about three specific points in the story where the totem spirits play a role.

Essay Topic 2

When Ayla is cursed with death, Brun gives a eulogy for her stating she has more courage, determination, and self-control than Broud. On all of the following, use examples from the text.

Part 1) How is Ayla more courageous than Broud?

Part 2) How is Ayla more determined than Broud?

Part 3) How does Ayla have more self-control than Broud?

Essay Topic 3

The Clan lacks the capacity to foresee consequences. If Brun could have perfect information about the future of the strange child he decides to let Iza adopt, what might he do differently? Write an essay describing how he might handle (1) her lack of submission to Broud, (2) her desire to hunt, and (3) her ability to learn healing from Iza. What might he do to prepare himself and the clan for these differences? If he decided to abandon her because she was too different, would the clan suffer from losing her? What do they gain by having her as part of the clan?

(see the answer keys)

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