DONALDSON TEST 1 QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS(GRADED A+)
What is "The Interlopers" about? - ANSWERTwo enemies who get trapped under a tree. They resolve
their conflicts, but get attacked by wolves.
What is "A Poison Tree"? - ANSWERA poem about mutual hatred between two people. The speaker
poisons his friend.
What is "Blues Ain't No Mockingbird" about? - ANSWERTwo grandparents fighting for privacy from
the media/public
What is "The Good Deed" about? - ANSWERA Chinese woman, Mrs. Pan, adapts to life in America.
She sets up her friend Lili with aman who works at the shop across the street.
What is "Tears of Autumn" about? - ANSWERHana Omiya leaves Japan for a man in San Francisco.
What is "The Scarlet Ibis" about? - ANSWERA boy who is embarrassed by his younger, disabled
brother named Doodle.
What is "American History" about? - ANSWERA Puerto Rican girl who is rejected by Eugene's family;
JFK's assassination
What is "The Sniper" about? - ANSWERAn Irish man who kills his brother during the Civil War
What is "The Rules of the Game" about? - ANSWERA girl named Waverly who becomes a chess
champion, but has to deal with her overbearing mother.
What themes are present in "The Interlopers"? - ANSWERNature is indifferent to man*Grudges are
dangerous*Power, property, identity*Man vs. Nature*Changing interlopers
, What themes are present in "A Poison Tree"? - ANSWERsuppressing anger*self-
restraint*moderation*the results of denial (bitterness, vengeful)*human nature
What themes are present in "Blues Ain't No Mockingbird"? - ANSWERPersistence*Privacy,
disrespect*Don't let others take advantage*Race/Racism*Gender Roles
What themes are present in "The Good Deed"? - ANSWERRespect for elders*Cultural
Barriers*Courtship*Definition of Beauty*The impact of a good deed
What themes are present in "Tears of Autumn"? - ANSWERBravery/Courage*Take chances*Respect
for family*Long Journeys / Mixed feelings
What themes are present in "The Scarlet Ibis"? - ANSWERPride/Shame/Embarrassment *Guilt *Love
or Lack of Love *Transformation *Companionship: Caring for others
What themes are present in "American History"? - ANSWERRace *Memory and the past *Patriotism
*Community *Observation
What themes are present in "TV Coverage of JFK's Death"? - ANSWEREvolution of Media *Society
What themes are present in "The Sniper"? - ANSWERAnti-war *Brotherhood *Regret *Wits /
Outsmarting *Vulnerability
What themes are present in "The Rules of the Game"? - ANSWERMental/Emotional strength *Family
*Manipulation *Youth *Freedom
Historical Reading Lens - ANSWERFocuses on the social, political, and economic climate of the
events.
Feminist Reading Lens - ANSWERFocuses on both male and female roles in a text.
Marxist Reading Lens - ANSWERFocuses on power in a story. Physical power political power, etc.
ANSWERS(GRADED A+)
What is "The Interlopers" about? - ANSWERTwo enemies who get trapped under a tree. They resolve
their conflicts, but get attacked by wolves.
What is "A Poison Tree"? - ANSWERA poem about mutual hatred between two people. The speaker
poisons his friend.
What is "Blues Ain't No Mockingbird" about? - ANSWERTwo grandparents fighting for privacy from
the media/public
What is "The Good Deed" about? - ANSWERA Chinese woman, Mrs. Pan, adapts to life in America.
She sets up her friend Lili with aman who works at the shop across the street.
What is "Tears of Autumn" about? - ANSWERHana Omiya leaves Japan for a man in San Francisco.
What is "The Scarlet Ibis" about? - ANSWERA boy who is embarrassed by his younger, disabled
brother named Doodle.
What is "American History" about? - ANSWERA Puerto Rican girl who is rejected by Eugene's family;
JFK's assassination
What is "The Sniper" about? - ANSWERAn Irish man who kills his brother during the Civil War
What is "The Rules of the Game" about? - ANSWERA girl named Waverly who becomes a chess
champion, but has to deal with her overbearing mother.
What themes are present in "The Interlopers"? - ANSWERNature is indifferent to man*Grudges are
dangerous*Power, property, identity*Man vs. Nature*Changing interlopers
, What themes are present in "A Poison Tree"? - ANSWERsuppressing anger*self-
restraint*moderation*the results of denial (bitterness, vengeful)*human nature
What themes are present in "Blues Ain't No Mockingbird"? - ANSWERPersistence*Privacy,
disrespect*Don't let others take advantage*Race/Racism*Gender Roles
What themes are present in "The Good Deed"? - ANSWERRespect for elders*Cultural
Barriers*Courtship*Definition of Beauty*The impact of a good deed
What themes are present in "Tears of Autumn"? - ANSWERBravery/Courage*Take chances*Respect
for family*Long Journeys / Mixed feelings
What themes are present in "The Scarlet Ibis"? - ANSWERPride/Shame/Embarrassment *Guilt *Love
or Lack of Love *Transformation *Companionship: Caring for others
What themes are present in "American History"? - ANSWERRace *Memory and the past *Patriotism
*Community *Observation
What themes are present in "TV Coverage of JFK's Death"? - ANSWEREvolution of Media *Society
What themes are present in "The Sniper"? - ANSWERAnti-war *Brotherhood *Regret *Wits /
Outsmarting *Vulnerability
What themes are present in "The Rules of the Game"? - ANSWERMental/Emotional strength *Family
*Manipulation *Youth *Freedom
Historical Reading Lens - ANSWERFocuses on the social, political, and economic climate of the
events.
Feminist Reading Lens - ANSWERFocuses on both male and female roles in a text.
Marxist Reading Lens - ANSWERFocuses on power in a story. Physical power political power, etc.
