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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. Which species does Ivan describe as "dreamers, poets, philosophers, nap takers"?

2. What sport does the chicken play?

3. What does Lila Burpee tease Julia about?

4. What does Ivan draw with the black crayon?

5. Who is Snickers?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Ivan and Stella have in common?

2. How does Ivan compare humans to chimps?

3. Why does Bob avoid most humans?

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

5. Why do some visitors to the mall think Ivan is lonely?

6. How does Ivan react when he sees another gorilla on his television?

7. What does Stella mean when she tells Ivan, "Old age is a powerful disguise"?

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

9. What are me-balls?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Ivan promises Stella he will make sure Ruby does not spend her life in the mall. Why do you think Ivan made that promise? Do you think Ivan intended to keep that promise when he made it? Why or why not? What event prompted Ivan to fulfill his promise?

Essay Topic 3

Why is Ivan’s art important to him? Describe how art affects Ivan’s life during his infancy, as a young gorilla living with Mack, as an “employee” of the Big Top Mall, and as an activist for animal rights. What is significant about the art that Ivan creates at the zoo?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 923 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample