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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. "Cicadas" is a poem that gives purpose and reason to what?

2. This is the first poem to focus on what?

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

4. For much of human history the largest group within a culture was the __________.

5. Which bee believes life is relaxing and enjoyable?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Why are these insects compared to rowers?

5. What is a literary device used in "Water Boatmen?" Explain how it is used.

6. How does the poet use poetry to give the reader a sense of what cicadas sound like?

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

8. How are cicadas like a choir?

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

10. How is the artwork important, specifically to the whirligig beetle poem? 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

A theme of this book is the focus on the insects' unique qualities.

Part 1) What are the unique qualities of each of the insects? How does the poet describe these unique qualities and make them stand out to the reader? What is his purpose for doing this?

Part 2) What is the most frequent quality described in this book? Support your response with proof from the book. Why might the poet have frequently focused on this quality? How can humans relate to this quality?

Part 3) How might reading about these unique qualities affect the reader? How might the reader's view of insects change because of these unique qualities? How do these qualities help you identify with the insects?

Essay Topic 3

The setting of this book is each of the habitats of the insects described by the poet.

Part 1) Describe the habitats of four of the insects described in this book. How do these habitats compare? What do they have in common? How are they each unique?

Part 2) How are the actions, attitudes, and opinions of the insects connected to their habitats? How is each of the insects mentioned above suited for their environment?

Part 3) How important is an insect's environment, according to the poet? How does this affect your opinion of protecting the environment, stopping pollution, etc? How do some of the habitats show how insects have adapted to changes in the world around them? What does this say about these insects?

(see the answer keys)

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