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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 are Sophie and Cody, when Sophie tell him the story of Bompie at the ocean?

2. What English landmark do the travelers sit near, on a bench while they eat?

3. Who does Bompie look like?

4. What does Brian call the little black bird?

5. After the wave hits, who becomes "Mr. Fix-It"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Stew and Mo argue about?

2. How does Sophie feel about the ham radio?

3. What injury does Cody sustain in the large wave that hits the boat?

4. What happens to Bompie in the story of the swimming hole?

5. As Dock tells his story of the little girl, what does Cody realize about Sophie's stories?

6. What is the significance of the stops the boat makes before setting out to sea?

7. When the travelers arrive in Ireland, who are they able to reach by phone?

8. What quotation from Tennyson does Uncle Dock yell out?

9. What is the weather like, the first night on the open ocean?

10. What happens in the altercation between Sophie and Brian?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of Sophie's primary personality traits is curiosity. Discuss Sophie's curiosity.

1) Why is Sophie curious about every new thing she encounters? Why does she ask so many questions?

2) Why does Sophie imagine living the lifestyles of new people she meets? What does imagining different lives do for Sophie?

3) How is Sophie's curiosity and enthusiasm contrasted with Brian's negativity and practicality? Is Sophie a dreamer because of her curiosity and enthusiasm?

Essay Topic 2

The characters argue with each other throughout the novel. Discuss the significance of arguments in the novel.

1) Why do some characters argue more than others? What causes Mo and Stew to argue? What causes Brian and Cody to argue?

2) What causes conflict and argument between Mo and Cody? What does this say about their relationship as father and son?

3) How are arguments different before the major storm, during the storm, and after the storm?

Essay Topic 3

Sophie's journey in "The Wanderer" is something she must do to face her fears. Discuss facing fears in "The Wanderer".

1) Why do Sophie's parents allow her to go on the journey? What does her father mean when he says it's just something she has to do?

2) Why does Sophie say that in her stories Bompie keeps going in the water because he is facing his fears?

3) What are Sophie's fears of the ocean? How does she face them though the course of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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