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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 did the Owens react when Mr. Van der Westhuizen offered them this amount of money for their research?

2. How many hours did Mark put in for his pilots license before he received it?

3. How many pups did Star give birth to in her final litter?

4. Which of the following groups of lions are typically responsible for hunting in a pride?

5. What was the name of the other pride of lions living the Kalahari at the same time as the Blue Pride?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do lions communicate?

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

3. What state was Bones in when the Owens first found him?

4. How did the airplane help improve Mark and Delia's research of the lions in the Kalahari?

5. What condition was Blue in at the time when the Owens first found her?

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

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

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

9. How had the political landscape in Botswana changed during the four weeks the Owens spent visiting family in the States?

10. Why were the Owens surprised when the Blue Pride accepted Happy as one of their own?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While they were on the airplane relocating to Botswana, Mark had a very vivid and very disturbing dream. First, describe the dream that Mark had on the airplane. What was significant about this dream? What was Mark's initial reaction to the dream? Then, explain the symbolism that could be found in Mark's dream. Why was it significant that Mark had this dream before his first move to Africa? Finally, explain whether or not the dream was an omen of things to come and why. Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

While the Owens were living in camp, they had many close calls with the lion pride that lived closest to them. On a daily basis, what was the relationship like between the Owens and the lions that shared the land? In your opinion, which situation between the lions and the Owens seemed the most dangerous? How can you tell? How did the Owens get out of this and other serious situations with the lions? At the end of the day, do you think the Owens were too naive about the animals they were researching? Why or why not? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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