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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. Why doesn't Sara come to the mall anymore?

2. Who gives Ivan his first crayon?

3. How much food must a silverback gorilla eat each day?

4. Who is Mack?

5. How does Ivan describe gorillas?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Mack make the animals perform shows at the mall?

2. How does Ivan compare humans to chimps?

3. Why do silverback gorillas pound their chests?

4. Where does Ivan live?

5. Why does Bob refer to poodles as "parasites"?

6. What is the purpose of the billboard outside the mall?

7. What does Mack do with Ivan's paintings and drawings?

8. Why does Mack give George money to buy new crayons for Julia?

9. What do Ivan and Stella have in common?

10. How did Stella come to live at the mall?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ivan envies Julia’s ability to draw things that “aren’t real”. Why do you think Ivan only draws things he can see? What is the importance of imagination in his decision to paint the sign to free Ruby? How does Ivan learn to use his imagination while he paints Ruby’s sign?

Essay Topic 2

Ivan is the narrator of the story. Why do you think the author chose to have him tell the story instead of writing it from a human’s perspective? What do we learn from Ivan’s point of view that we might not learn had the story been told from a human’s point of view?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the role the claw-stick plays in the story. Compare how Mack views the use of the claw-stick with how the other characters view its use. What role does the claw-stick play in the release of the animals? How could this be described as ironic?

(see the answer keys)

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