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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. From where are the cicadas coming?

2. The poet names _________________ insect species.

3. What tool is used by the poet to express the beetles' qualities?

4. "Honeybees" is quite different from the previous poems. Why?

5. What else is reflected by what covers the pages of the poem?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the mood of "Cicadas?" Why?

2. Why are these insects compared to rowers?

3. What is the purpose of "Cicadas?"

4. What does "Water Boatmen" describe? Why?

5. From whose perspective is "Honeybees?" Why?

6. What are the moods of this poem? Why do they differ?

7. How does this mood in "The Digger Wasp" change? Why?

8. What does "The Digger Wasp" describe? Why?

9. How could a person relate to a day in the life of the whirligig beetle?

10. How do "Whirligig Beetles" and "Requiem" compare?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Requiem" is a unique poem.

Part 1) How is it unique? Why is it so different from the other poems? What is the purpose of this poem? How is this poem connected to all the other poems?

Part 2) What is the lesson of this poem? How can humans relate this to their own lives?

Part 3) What is a requiem? Why are requiems created? How do those who hear these requiems benefit from them?

Essay Topic 2

There are two types of bees found in "Honeybees."

Part 1) What are these two types of bees? How are they similar? How are they different? Why are they both included in this poem? What does this say about bee culture and society?

Part 2) How can one make a connection between these bees and human culture and society? What might this reveal about the author's view of these types of people in society?

Part 3) Can you relate to these two types of bees? To which type of bee do you feel more connected? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The poet chooses to write a book about insects.

Part 1) What might be the poet's opinion of insects? How does this book reflect this?

Part 2) What might have been the poet's purpose for writing these poems? What other subjects might the poet be interested in? Why?

Part 3) If you were to write a book of poetry, about what would you write? Why? How might this affect those who would read your poems? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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