Touching Spirit Bear Chapters 7-13

When Cole decides he wants to live, what must he do to survive?

• Cole forages for food. He drinks muddy water and eats grass, worms, bugs, a mouse, and fish chunks from his own vomit.
• Cole must overcome the extreme pain of his injuries to get up and forage for food.
• Cole becomes dependent on other animals. He eats whatever the gulls drop near him: small beach crabs, seaweed, and bits of fish.
• Cole turns to nature for food. He eats the needles, bark, and seeds from the cones of the spruce tree, and he drinks rainwater.

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Cole is near-death from his injuries, exposure, and lack of food and water. What happens that saves his life?

• A passing airplane surveying storm damage sees Cole and radios Edwin and Garvey for help.
• A boat set off course during the storm comes ashore. The captain finds Cole and rushes him to a medical facility.
• Edwin comes to the island for one of his visits, finds Cole, and radios for Garvey to bring help.
• Edwin and Garvey arrive just in time to take Cole off the island and get him medical care.

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Garvey apologizes to Cole for "getting you into this," and Cole responds, "My fault!" What is the significance of this statement?

• Even after all Cole has been through, he is still saying what he thinks the other person wants to hear.

• Cole is being sensitive to Garvey's feelings and gives the answer he thinks will make Garvey feel better.

• Cole is trying to fool Garvey so that Garvey will stand up for him at the next Circle Justice meeting.

• For the first time, Cole is taking responsibility for his own actions.

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Edwin believes Cole will be okay when what happens?

• when Cole finds a reason to live
• when the doctors heal Cole's injuries
• when Cole apologizes to Peter
• when Cole encounters the Spirit Bear again

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While under Rosey's care, Cole has a nightmare. Describe it.

• He dreams that people help him and then they turn into monsters and laugh at him.
• He dreams that he is swimming away from the island, but the Spirit Bear comes up out of the water to attack him. 
• He dreams that the Spirit Bear attacks him again, but this time he kills the bear.
• He dreams that his dad is beating him but the Spirit Bear appears and attacks his father.

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Rosey tells Cole that his body will heal in a few months, but time won't heal his mind as easily. What does she say will heal his wounds of the spirit?

• Facing Peter again will help to heal his spirit.
• He must become a part of the circle of life.
• Helping others helps to heal the spirit.
• He must return to the island to heal his spirit.

Tags

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When he sees the spirit bear standing twenty feet away as he lay helpless on the ground, what does Cole do as his last act of defiance, and what does this act symbolize?

• Cole taunts the bear, inviting it to come over so he can try to kill it.
• Cole lowers his head and drops his eyes as an act of submission.
• Cole shakes his fist at the bear as a symbol of his dominance.
• Cole spits at the bear as a symbol of all the he rejects about his life.

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The bear returns and hovers closely over Cole. What does Cole feel when he reaches out and touches the bear?

• Instead of spitting at the bear, Cole gently reaches for it, just to feel its fur. In that moment, they connect and Cole feels trust first the first time.

• The bear stares at Cole and this infuriates Cole. He pushes the bear away hoping the bear will kill him.

• The bear stands up to its full height on its hind legs showing its dominance over Cole. Cole is truly afraid.

• The Spirit Bear paws at the ground near Cole to mark its territory, giving the clear signal that this area belongs to him. Cole cowers him fear.

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Cole expects the bear to kill him. What is Cole's view of death at the moment?

• He completely surrenders to death in whatever form it may come.
• He fears death and is willing to do anything it takes to fight it.
• He thinks death would be a relief to the agony of his injuries.
• He thinks he can accept death if it comes fast in one last violent moment of defiance.

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What cycle does Cole now understand?

• Cole understands the cycle of death - when something dies, its spirit lives on in the memories of others.
• Cole understands the cycle of generations - that one grown up, becomes a parent, and repeats the traditions of the previous generation.
• Cole understands the cycle of nature - how all creatures work and live together in a harminious pattern of life and death.
• Cole understands the cycle of life - one lives, dies, and rots then something else lives, dies, and rots.

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