Theme Development in The Call of the Wild Quiz

Read the excerpt from The Call of the Wild. They stopped by a running stream to drink, and, stopping, Buck remembered John Thornton. He sat down. The wolf started on toward the place from where the call surely came, then returned to him, sniffing noses and making actions as though to encourage him. But Buck turned about and started slowly on the back track. For the better part of an hour the wild brother ran by his side, whining softly. Then he sat down, pointed his nose upward, and howled. It was a mournful howl, and as Buck held steadily on his way he heard it grow faint and fainter until it was lost in the distance.John Thornton was eating dinner when Buck dashed into camp and sprang upon him in a frenzy of affection, overturning him, scrambling upon him, licking his face, biting his hand - "playing the general tom-fool," as John Thornton characterized it, the while he shook Buck back and forth and cursed him lovingly. Which theme is supported by Buck's unwillingness to continue the journey with the wolf? A. A good, strong leader treats his followers well. B. The only way to learn something new is to try it. C. Only the strong are able to survive in the wild. D. The desire to fight for power is a natural instinct.

A. A good, strong leader treats his followers well.

Read the excerpt from The Call of the Wild. They saw him marching out of camp, but they did not see the instant and terrible transformation which took place as soon as he was within the secrecy of the forest. He no longer marched. At once he became a thing of the wild, stealing along softly, cat-footed, a passing shadow that appeared and disappeared among the shadows. He knew how to take advantage of every cover, to crawl on his belly like a snake, and like a snake to leap and strike. He could take a ptarmigan from its nest, kill a rabbit as it slept, and snap in mid air the little chipmunks fleeing a second too late for the trees. Fish, in open pools, were not too quick for him; nor were beaver, mending their dams, too wary. He killed to eat, not from wantonness; but he preferred to eat what he killed himself. So a lurking humor ran through his deeds, and it was his delight to steal upon the squirrels, and, when he all but had them, to let them go, chattering in mortal fear to the treetops. Is this an example of Buck being dynamic or static? A. It shows that Buck is dynamic because he transforms in the forest. B. It shows that Buck is static because he transforms in the forest. C. It shows that Buck is static because he continues marching. D. It shows that Buck is dynamic because he continues marching.

A. It shows that Buck is dynamic because he transforms in the forest.

Read this excerpt from The Call of the Wild. The Yeehats were dancing about the wreckage of the spruce-bough lodge when they heard a fearful roaring and saw rushing upon them an animal the like of which they had never seen before. It was Buck, a live hurricane of fury, hurling himself upon them in a frenzy to destroy. He sprang at the foremost man (it was the chief of the Yeehats). . . . He did not pause to worry the victim, but ripped in passing, with the next bound tearing wide the throat of a second man. There was no withstanding him. He plunged about in their very midst, tearing, rending, destroying, in constant and terrific motion which defied the arrows they discharged at him. In fact, so inconceivably rapid were his movements, and so closely were the Indians tangled together, that they shot one another with the arrows; and one young hunter, hurling a spear at Buck in mid air, drove it through the chest of another hunter with such force that the point broke through the skin of the back and stood out beyond. Then a panic seized the Yeehats, and they fled in terror to the woods, proclaiming as they fled the advent of the Evil Spirit. Which correctly describes the change in the Yeehats? A. They are overwhelmed, and then they are cautious. B. They are anxious, and then they are free. C. They are ecstatic, and then they are disappointed. D. They are festive, and then they are frantic.

A. is INCORRECT

Choose the statement that is true. A. Buck is static because he behaves like a well-trained pet. B. Buck is dynamic because he leaves man to join the wild. C. John is dynamic because he remains loyal to Buck. D. John is static because he joins the Yeehats' village.

B. Buck is dynamic because he leaves man to join the wild

Choose the statement that is true. A. The wild wolf is static because he starts off being friendly to Buck. B. Buck is dynamic because he runs with the wolf but returns to John. C. Thornton is static because he does not consider Buck's well-being. D. The Yeehats are dynamic because they are always powerful.

B. Buck is dynamic because he runs with the wolf but returns to John.

How does Buck change from the beginning of the story to the end? A. He changes from a ferocious animal to a timid animal. B. He changes from a cared-for house pet to a wild hunter. C. He changes from an anxious dog to a strong survivor. D. He changes from an affectionate dog to an isolated pet.

B. He changes from a cared-for house pet to a wild hunter.

Read the two excerpts from The Call of the Wilddescribing the wolf. The wolf whirled about, pivoting on his hind legs after the fashion of Joe and of all cornered husky dogs, snarling and bristling, clipping his teeth together in a continuous and rapid succession of snaps. *** For the better part of an hour the wild brother ran by his side, whining softly. How has the wolf changed? A. He has become anxious about his pack. B. He has become friendlier toward Buck. C. He has become timid because of the sounds. D. He has become stronger in his demeanor.

B. He has become friendlier toward Buck.

Read the excerpt from The Call of the Wild. They saw him marching out of camp, but they did not see the instant and terrible transformation which took place as soon as he was within the secrecy of the forest. He no longer marched. At once he became a thing of the wild, stealing along softly, cat-footed, a passing shadow that appeared and disappeared among the shadows. He knew how to take advantage of every cover, to crawl on his belly like a snake, and like a snake to leap and strike. He could take a ptarmigan from its nest, kill a rabbit as it slept, and snap in mid air the little chipmunks fleeing a second too late for the trees. Fish, in open pools, were not too quick for him; nor were beaver, mending their dams, too wary. He killed to eat, not from wantonness; but he preferred to eat what he killed himself. So a lurking humor ran through his deeds, and it was his delight to steal upon the squirrels, and, when he all but had them, to let them go, chattering in mortal fear to the treetops. Which theme does this passage illustrate? A. A good leader is strong and intelligent and treats his followers well. B. Only the strong survive in the wilderness. C. The desire to fight for power is an instinct. D. The only way to learn something is to try it.

B. Only the strong survive in the wilderness.

Read this excerpt from The Call of the Wild. Night came on, and a full moon rose high over the trees into the sky, lighting the land till it lay bathed in ghostly day. And with the coming of the night, brooding and mourning by the pool, Buck became alive to a stirring of the new life in the forest other than that which the Yeehats had made. He stood up, listening and scenting. From far away drifted a faint, sharp yelp, followed by a chorus of similar sharp yelps. As the moments passed the yelps grew closer and louder. Again Buck knew them as things heard in that other world which persisted in his memory. He walked to the centre of the open space and listened. It was the call, the many-noted call, sounding more luringly and compellingly than ever before. And as never before, he was ready to obey. John Thornton was dead. The last tie was broken. Man and the claims of man no longer bound him. How does this moment change Buck? A. It gives him a sense of newfound obedience. B. It gives him the desire to start his own family. C. It gives him the idea to sleep through the night in the forest. D. It gives him a sense of newfound freedom.

D. It gives him a sense of newfound freedom.

Read the two excerpts from The Call of the Wild. The wolf whirled about, pivoting on his hind legs after the fashion of Joe and of all cornered husky dogs, snarling and bristling, clipping his teeth together in a continuous and rapid succession of snaps. *** For the better part of an hour the wild brother ran by his side, whining softly. Which statement is true? A. The wolf is static because he changes from worried to excited. B. The wolf is static because he remains the same in both situations. C. The wolf is dynamic because he remains the same in both situations. D. The wolf is dynamic because he changes from frightened to comfortable.

D. The wolf is dynamic because he changes from frightened to comfortable.