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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. Where did the wild hogs live?

2. Why were otter cubs the most prized?

3. What is the only part of a hog's body not protected by sap?

4. What did the author's family mainly grow on their land?

5. Where did the author first travel to with his father at twelve years old?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did the villagers travel from other villages and towns?

2. How did Mr. Short's life change after the loss of his tail?

3. What is the best way for a hunter to kill a lone wild hog?

4. Why were tigers such a nuisance to the villagers?

5. How did Nhuong's cousin teach the song birds different songs?

6. Why did Nhuong call his new buffalo Tank?

7. Why are lone wild hogs more dangerous than a herd of wild hogs?

8. How did the female otter protect her cubs?

9. How did the crocodile attack the villagers?

10. How did Mr. Short lose his tail?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is Nhoung's relationship with his grandmother? How does her death affect him and how does he express his feelings within the narrative?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the book's chronological setting.

1. What were the main concerns during the 1940s? How does the author express these concerns?

2. How would the author change the book if it was set in today's society?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss elements of the narrative structure; exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's themes?

(see the answer keys)

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