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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. What does Travis think about Lisbeth staying with them?

2. What does Travis do while Mama, Lisbeth, and Old Yeller go to burn Spot?

3. What does Travis see Mama, Little Arliss, and Lisbeth doing after they gather the corn?

4. What fills Travis with terror when he goes back to find Old Yeller?

5. Why is Travis angry that Bud Searcy comes to visit?

Short Essay Questions

1. What decision does Mama and Travis make regarding the Spot heifer?

2. Why is Travis worried when wakes up from his nap?

3. Summarize what Mama must do while Travis is recuperating.

4. Describe Travis' state of mind after he shoots Old Yeller.

5. Describe Travis' condition when he returns home after dealing with the Spot heifer.

6. Describe how Travis plans to mark the remainder of his hogs.

7. Why does Mama say that is was a good thing Old Yeller was there to save Mama and the others from the wolf, but not a good thing for Old Yeller?

8. Explain why Travis can't sleep the night Burn Sanderson leaves.

9. Describe why Mama is afraid of their wild hogs.

10. Summarize the actions of Travis when he realized that the roan bull has hydrophobia.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1) Interpret the feelings Travis and Lisbeth have for each other in the first part of the novel when they are visiting.

2) Are their emotions authentic for their ages?

3) Are they truthful with each other?

4) Compare these emotions with how they interact later in the novel when Lisbeth is staying at Travis' house.

5) What regrets do they have at the end of the novel with regard to their relationship?

6) How does their relationship differ from the first part of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

1) Analyze the impact of the Civil War on the American economy as described in the novel.

2) What result does this economy have on the lives of Papa, Travis, Mama, and Little Arliss?

3) Predict how different their lives would have been if the war had not affected the economy.

Essay Topic 3

1) Write an introduction for the novel discussing Fred Gipson's writing style, use of dialogue, imagery, and the point of view of the characters.

2) How do these literary elements affect the story?

(see the answer keys)

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