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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. After Ish meets the family in Arkansas, the author talks about the fall of mankind. Who does the writer say will truly be saddened by the death of man?

2. What animal does Ish see running in the highway after the virus strikes?

3. What is the name of Ish and Em's second child?

4. Out of all the people Ish finds at first, which of these is the most friendly?

5. What event affects the house of Ish's neighbor that Ish refuses to fix?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is notable about how Ish acts on his trip home?

2. How is it significant that Ish has not passed on the tradition of carving the year into the rock? What effect may this have later?

3. Why do you think the group wouldn't allow Evie to have children?

4. How is Ish different at the end of the book than he was at the start?

5. What law does Ish believe needs to be in effect the next time any new people arrive in their area? Why?

6. What did Ezra do to test Charlie about his vest?

7. Why is Ish so concerned about finding people who can "fix" civilization?

8. Are the other Tribe members as dedicated to education as Ish is? Why or why not?

9. What difference does Em make in Ish's life? What would have happened to Ish if Em had not been there?

10. Why does Ish start walking with a limp?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the beginning of the story, Ish is referred to as a person who doesn't do well in social gatherings. Later in the book, Ish decides that he is, ironically, happier than he would have been if things had been normal, but still, he never seems satisfied that civilization hasn't returned to the way it was before. Why do you think Ish never seems to be satisfied? How do you think this affects him, and the fate of the people who look up to him?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter Three, the author states that the fleas: "...in spite of racial differences, amicably maintained a tripartite balance of power, setting for their host an example which he might well have followed." What do you think the author is saying about racism and equality in this text? Why do you think he chose fleas as his illustration? How does the relationship between Ish and Em reflect on the author's view of racism?

Essay Topic 3

In the first six chapters of the book, Ish notices that there are certain animals that cannot live without man, while there are others who seem to adapt after awhile. The author makes several comments about these animals throughout the remainder of the book. Do you think that the author is really, in a sense, talking about mankind? If so, what is he saying? If not, what point do you think the author is trying to emphasize?

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