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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 do the two parts relate to the whirligig beetle?

2. "Honeybees" is told from the perspective of whom?

3. What happens when the water boatmen reach their destination?

4. "The Digger Wasp" tells of the life of a digger wasp as it prepares for what?

5. The sound of cicadas singing begins how?

Short Essay Questions

1. Compare the different types of honeybees.

2. How can the world of the honeybee be compared to your own world?

3. To what else could the water boatmen be compared? Why?

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

5. How does the author use poetry and literary devices to teach about whirligig beetles?

6. How are cicadas like a choir?

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

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

9. Describe the whirligig beetle, based on this poem.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Some of the insects' actions are described.

Part 1) What poems focus on action? Whose action is the focus? Why is this the focus? What does this reveal about this insect?

Part 2) How do the other poems contrast these very active poems? Why does this contrast exist? What does this reveal about the insects?

Part 3) How is action connected to the mood of the poem? How important is the mood of the poem? Explain. Is the mood of a story important to every story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Famous authors' names are mentioned in "Book Lice."

Part 1) How do these famous authors' names get mentioned in this poem? Why might the poet have decided to include these famous authors in this poem? Does this enhance the poem in any way? Why or why not?

Part 2) What information might be helpful prior to reading this poem? Why? How might this information effect one's ability to understand "Book Lice" and the differences between these two different lice?

Part 3) How important is it to learn about famous authors and artists? Explain. Would the author of this book agree with you? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

There are many insect species described in this book.

Part 1) After reading these poems, to which species do you feel most connected? Why? How has this book changed your attitude toward this species? Why?

Part 2) Which species would you add, if you were the poet? Why? How might this species compare to those already included in this book?

Part 3) How do these species represent all insects? Are all types of insects adequately represented? If so, how? If not, why not?

(see the answer keys)

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