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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 bird does Thoreau hear almost every day in the winter?

2. What does the poet say is the greatest thing he has seen today?

3. Who does Thoreau meet when taking shelter from a thunder storm?

4. What is the destiny of the human race?

5. What animal grows to be four feet long, yet is rarely seen by humans?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Thoreau describe his encounters with cats in the forest?

2. How does Thoreau describe the condition of the hut that John Field's family lives in?

3. How does Thoreau say Walden Pond got its revenge on the men who were harvesting the ice?

4. Why does Thoreau admire the 'wild men' who go ice-fishing on Walden Pond?

5. What are the two paths that Thoreau finds himself drawn to?

6. What did Thoreau use as an excuse to carry a gun?

7. Why does Thoreau 'visit' particular trees?

8. What did the old man see when he was hunting ducks?

9. What does Thoreau learn from his experiment?

10. Why does Thoreau's self-respect fall when he goes fishing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

If you tried to carry out Thoreau's experiment today, would it be possible? Why or why not? Write an essay explaining how our modern society can prevent us from living such a simplified lifestyle. Be sure to include any modern inventions that would actually assist a minimalist lifestyle.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay comparing the personal philosophies of another author involved in the Transcendentalist Movement with those belonging to Thoreau.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay for or against vegetarianism. What are the impacts of your personal eating habits on your body, the environment, and the economy?

(see the answer keys)

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