The story takes place in the deep woods of Maine more than 100 years ago in June. It follows Sylvia, a young girl of around 15 years old, her grandmother, and a young man. Sylvia is very knowledgeable about the woods and its animals, knowing "every foot of the woods." The young man wants to find and kill a white heron to stuff for his collection, but Sylvia loves the heron and does not help the man locate it, instead protecting the bird she does not want harmed.

1. “A White Heron”
Answers to the Practice Test

2. 1. Where and when does this
story take place? (Where and
when?)
It takes place in the deep woods
in Maine. (Where)
More than 100 years ago. In
June. (Where)

3. 2. Who are the three characters
in the story?
Sylvia, her grandmother, and a
young man.
Sylvia is a girl. Maybe in her
early teens? Maybe 15?

4. 3. Does Sylvia know a lot about
the woods and the animals?
Quote a sentence from the
story about this.
Yes, she does. “She knows every
foot of the woods.”

5. 4. Why does the young man
want to find the heron? He
wants to kill it and save it in his
collection. He wants to stuff it.

6. 5. Does Sylvia like the young
man? Quote a sentence from
the story that tells about this.
Yes, she loves him.
“She would have loved him as a
dog loves!”

7. 6. How does Sylvia find the
heron’s nest? She climbs up to
the top of a tree, and then she
can see the heron and its nest.

8. 7. Does Sylvia help the young
man find the heron? Why or
why not? No, she doesn’t tell
him because she loves the
heron. She doesn’t the young
man to kill the heron. She
protects it.