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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 does Ann do to the chickens before hiding out?

2. What does Ann do later in the day without Loomis?

3. What seems to puzzle the man after he goes inside Ann's home?

4. What is the man wearing who arrives in Ann's sight?

5. What did the man lay on top of his cart?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the man do with his Geiger counter and then what terrible error does he make?

2. Why concerns Ann about the approaching stranger?

3. How does Ann get the tractor running and what planting decision does she make?

4. How does Ann become inspired to make a salad?

5. Why is Mr. Loomis at Burden Creek when Ann returns from picking greens, and how does he think the Creek can be used?

6. What does the approaching stranger do when he gets halfway across the flat part of the hill overlooking the green valley of Ann's home?

7. Why doesn't Ann think the arriving stranger is in a car and what does she think about what he is bringing?

8. Explain why Ann's parents left her home when they left to discover the effects of the war?

9. What does Ann hear Loomis saying in his dreams and what does Ann think about what she hears?

10. What happens that convinces Ann that the man knows nothing about farm life and what is her response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As the novel progresses, Ann feels that Loomis is more and more controlling of their lives. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss and analyze two scenes when you think Loomis is being controlling. Is Ann right to be defensive?

2. How much of Loomis' controlling is based upon the fact that he is considerably older than Ann? Do you think it is a legitimate thing that he, being much more knowledgeable about many things, should make more of the decisions?

3. How much of Loomis' controlling is based upon the fact that he is a male? Do you think Loomis would be as controlling of another man as he is of Ann?

4. Do you think Ann's assessment of Loomis' mental health is accurate? Why or why not? Discuss fully with examples.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Discuss five literary devices that occur in Z for Zachariah and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why or why not. Some possible techniques: Allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.

2. What do you think are the reasons students are encouraged to understand literary devices? Do you think an understanding of the structure of a work of fiction enhances the reading experience? Why or why not?

3. Do you think authors make a conscious effort to include literary devices into their writing? Discuss your answer. Do you think it would be difficult to consciously create metaphor, simile, puns, etc...? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Z for Zachariah could be said to be a "bildungsroman" of Ann, the main character. Discuss the following:

1. Define the concepts "bildungsroman" and "coming of age."

2. Thoroughly trace and analyze Z for Zachariah as a bildungsroman of Ann. Give specific examples. What does Ann learn? How has she changed? Is the change for the better?

3. Do you think young people in our modern culture go through a coming of age period? Do you think the concept of "coming of age" is inherent in the human experience? Why or why not?

4. Do you think you have lived through a "coming of age" period in your own life? Discuss as thoroughly as you willing to share.

(see the answer keys)

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