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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 does Helen think fresh air and exercise will help her children?

2. Where are the children walking?

3. What does Lucinda have to be sedated?

4. Who disagrees with Jared about what may have happened to Arthur?

5. What is talking to the children from a tree?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Simon suggest about Mallory's find and what is her response?

2. What does Mallory say to Jared when they arrive home and how does he respond?

3. What do the three beings who come through the trees look like?

4. Who is the first of the three beings to speak to the children and what does she say?

5. What does Jared order his siblings to do and how do they accomplish this?

6. What do the elves say about humans and the field guide when they get angry?

7. Why is Jared nervous, what does he ask the three and what is their response?

8. What does the unicorn show the children and how do they react to the vision?

9. How does Helen react to Jared and Mallory fighting in Lucinda's room and what happens to Lucinda?

10. What happens with the children when they walk up the hill?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Jared is no exception. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Jared demonstrates his intelligence and courage. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Jared's character flaws offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion.

3. Discuss how you think Jared's admirable traits makes him able to help with many of the problems the children face. Have his flaws impacted his life? Do any of his siblings notice these flaws? Who? How does the reader know this?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of Lucinda's Secret. Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Lucinda's Secret. How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in Lucinda's Secret? Which theme in Lucinda's Secret speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

Essay Topic 3

There are non-human sentient beings in Lucinda's Secret. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss the phooka. Who are they? What are their powers? What is their purpose? Are they "good" or "evil"? What do they look like physically? What role do they play in forwarding the plot? Are they believable? Why or why not?

2. Thoroughly discuss the elves. What are they? What are their powers? What is their purpose? Are they "good" or "evil"? What do they look like physically? What role does he play in forwarding the plot? Is he believable? Why or why not?

3. Thoroughly discuss Thimbletack. What is he? What are his powers? What is his purpose? Is he "good" or "evil"? What does he look like physically? What role does he play in forwarding the plot? Is he believable? Why or why not?

4. Do you think sentient, non-human beings adds to the enjoyment of Lucinda's Secret? Explain your answer.

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