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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When the man comes to the door of the bar with his warning, what does the drummer ask him to do?
(a) Go away.
(b) Follow the Mexicans.
(c) Forget it.
(d) Come in for a drink.

2. What do the Mexicans do for a living?
(a) Cow herders.
(b) Sheep herders.
(c) Farmhands.
(d) Rustlers.

3. What river runs by the town of Yellow Sky?
(a) Mississippi.
(b) Missouri.
(c) Colorado.
(d) Rio Grande.

4. What is the area under the bar made of?
(a) Iron.
(b) Coal.
(c) Thick wood.
(d) Zinc and copper fittings.

5. What time is it when the bride looks at her pocket watch?
(a) 12:16 p.m.
(b) 6:50 p.m.
(c) 12:17 p.m.
(d) 3:45 p.m.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do all the men in the bar do as Scratcy approaches?

2. How many rows of waiters were in the dining car?

3. As Scratchy approaches, one man gestures toward the barkeep for something. What does he want?

4. What do the objects across the street from the bar resemble?

5. How does the couple feel about each other?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the character of the town of Yellow Sky. What is Jack's position in the town? How is he viewed by others?

2. How does the author describe the man at the railway station? What does his description tell us about the weather that day?

3. The groom mentions the price of $1.00 for a meal and the bride is astonished at the high price, worrying that they may not be able to afford such an extravagance. What does this tell us about the bride and groom.

4. What is the drummer's reaction to Jack's job? Do you get the sense that this is unusual for the drummer? He is a traveling man, but is not prepared for this. What does this say about the town of Yellow Sky?

5. Why does the man in the bar ask for a drink from the barkeeper and then swallow it down? Does this action seem out-of-place? Overly dramatic? Why? Why not?

6. What did Jack once do to Scratchy? Why is this important to the story? Do these men really feel that they cannot handle the situation without Jack, or do they just not want to?

7. Explain the significance of the Mexicans in the bar.

8. Explain the role of the African-American porters in this story. How do they regard the couple? Why? Is this alluding to a reverse of racial attitudes of the times?

9. How is the bride described in the story?

10. Jack shows his new bride the train with the pride of an owner. He lavishes expensive (for them) meals upon her. What does this tell us about their relationship and their future marriage?

(see the answer keys)

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