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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 was the name of the cottage owned by Dolene and Simon Paul?

2. What animal were the Blue Pride Lions feasting on at the time when Mark immobilized and tagged them?

3. What state was the Owens' campsite in when they returned to it?

4. Why couldn't the Owens reach Gypsy's cubs to save them before starvation took them?

5. How did the Owens know that the corpse in the shed belonged to Bones?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Delia interact with Star's pups during her research period for her PhD?

2. Who was Mox?

3. Who was Mr. Van der Westhuizen?

4. How did Muffin die?

5. How did Mark manage to purchase an airplane for his research?

6. How did Star die?

7. What type of mother was Gypsy to her cubs?

8. Why did the Owens find it necessary to tag the gang of brown hyenas that lived near their camp?

9. Why did the Owens particularly enjoy their stay at the Buffalo Cottage?

10. How did the Owens find out that Mox had quit his position as their assistant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although the Owens worked hard to help preserve the Kalahari Desert, it often seemed as if they working against much stronger forces that were determined to destroy the land. First, describe one of the natural elements the Owens were up against in their fight to preserve the Kalahari. Then, compare / contrast the damage from this natural cause with the damage from a man-made construction. Which do you think was a bigger threat to the preservation of the Kalahari? How can you tell? In what ways did the Owens fight against these forces with their hopes of preserving the land? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

When the Owens first moved to the Kalahari, they had help from many of the locals when they were getting situated. Choose two of the locals that helped the Owens settle in the Kalahari. How did each of these people ensure that the Owens would be successful in their research? Do you think the Owens would have survived their first year in the Kalahari without this outside help? Why or why not? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout their time in the Kalahari, the Owens had a great amount of time to study the mothering habits of the various animals that lived in the desert. Choose two of the animal species that the Owens studied and describe their mothering habits. Based on the research conduced by the Owens, would you say these animal species were "good" mothers? Why or why not? How did the Owens' research on these specific species of animals affect the way the scientific world viewed mothering from a zoological stand point? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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