Outdoor Literature – Practice Quiz for Henry David Thoreau’s Walden
This is a practice quiz on the Introduction to Thoreau's Walden and the first three pages of the Walden reading (Anthology of the Outdoor Experience, pages 7-13) . It will help you get a feel for the type of quizzes given at the start of each class period. The answers are at the bottom of the page.
1. Where does Walden take place:
A. California C. Massachusetts
B. Texas D. North Dakota
2. With which famous transcendentalist did Thoreau lived for a period of time?
A. Ralph Waldo Emerson C. Mark Twain
B. Osborne Russell D. Albert Bierstadt
3. True or False. Although, we think of Thoreau as high minded, he had one flaw: he supported the practice of slavery.
4. True or False. In Walden, Thoreau includes references to old literature. Included among those are references to Greek Mythology.
5. True or False. Thoreau borrowed an axe (instead of buying it) to start building his cabin.
6. True or False. When Thoreau begins building his cabin by cutting down some pine trees, Walden Pond still had ice on it.
7. At the very beginning of Walden, who is Thoreau addressing his remarks?
A. Townsmen C. Religious Leaders
B. Labor Unions D. Politicians
8. True or False. Thoreau never uses the pronoun “I” in the selection that you read.
9. Thoreau mentions the “Sandwich Islanders.” Who are they?
A. Cubans C. Englishmen
B. Hawaiians D. Irishmen
10. Thoreau writes that once while cutting wood, he observed a creature pass by him and then go into the pond. “He lay on the bottom," Thoreau wrote, "apparently without inconvenience, as long as I stayed there.” What was the creature?
A. Frog C. Snake
B. Beaver D. Muskrat
11. Thoreau talks about how long he lived alongside Walden pond. How long was it?
A. 10 years C. 20 years
B. 15 years D. 2 years
(Answers at bottom of page)
___________
Answers:
1 - C; 2 -A; 3 - F; 4 - T; 5 - T; 6 -T; 7 - A; 8 - F; 9 - B; 10 - C; 11 -D
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