Brian's Winter

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following would Brian most likely say is the most important thing for surviving in the wilderness?

A) Paying close attention to your surroundings

B) Being physically fast and strong

C) Having high-quality survival gear

D) Maintaining a strong, competitive spirit

2. Which of the following best describes Brian’s attitude toward nature?

A) It is an ideal place to prove your dominance over the environment.

B) It can be dangerous, but it is also beautiful and filled with wonders.

C) It is a gentle and healing place that provides everything people need to thrive.

D) It can be thrilling, but humans are no longer adapted to its brutal demands.

3. Which of the following best describes how Brian changes over the course of the novel?

A) He becomes more and more at home in the northern wilderness.

B) He learns to take more responsibility for his own choices.

C) He gradually starts to appreciate at least some aspects of nature.

D) He learns to stop doubting his own decision-making abilities.

4. What is the most reasonable interpretation of the author’s purpose in depicting the weather through vivid imagery?

A) The imagery creates a lyrical, poetic tone that conveys Brian’s intelligence.

B) Weather is an important part of what makes northern Canada beautiful.

C) Brian has a lot of pre-existing knowledge about weather patterns.

D) The weather has powerful physical and emotional impacts on Brian.

5. What aspect of Brian’s character is illustrated by his choice to boil his meat, his feelings about how hunting changes in winter, and the way he stays awake at night if he hears an unfamiliar noise?

A) He is curious.

B) He is imaginative.

C) He is practical.

D) He is determined.

6. In general, how does Brian feel about hunting?

A) Hunting is thrilling and makes him feel powerful.

B) Killing is difficult and sad but necessary for survival.

C) It is fine to kill older animals but wrong to kill young ones.

D) Hunting helps keep the overall animal population healthier.

7. Which of the following is the most accurate description of how Parts 1 and 2 of the novel differ?

A) Part 1 is about how Brian ended up in the wilderness, and Part 2 is about how he gets rescued.

B) Part 1 is about Brian’s longing for home, and Part 2 is about his desire to stay in the wilderness.

C) Part 1 is about the beauty of the land, and Part 2 is about its harshness.

D) Part 1 is about the lead-up to winter, and Part 2 is about winter itself.

8. What do Brian’s thinking about Betty the skunk, his reactions to the birds’ songs, and his imaginary visits with people from home all have in common?

A) They demonstrate Brian’s need for companionship.

B) They show that Brian is gradually adjusting to his situation.

C) They demonstrate Brian’s sense of humor.

D) They show that Brian’s emotions sometimes get in his way.

9. Which of the following most clearly contrasts with Brian’s feelings about living in the wilderness in the final chapters of the novel?

A) Brian’s reaction to watching the wolves hunt the moose

B) Brian’s feelings when he sees the woods after the first snowfall

C) Brian’s feelings after finishing the rations from the plane’s survival kit

D) Brian’s reaction to seeing the path that David left

10. Which of the following activities most clearly demonstrates Brian’s need for mental stimulation?

A) When he mistakes the trees popping for the sound of gunshots

B) When he follows the moose even though he does not need any meat

C) When he realizes he can use the deer hide as a kind of sled

D) When he copies the design of a beaver dam in his own shelter

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. How does Brian rely on knowledge gained from a variety of sources as he works to survive the winter?

2. How does Brian’s story demonstrate the importance of being willing to keep trying and learn through a process of trial and error?