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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Edward's part thought in this chapter is that

2. The government survey crew came with plans to

3. The small cloud on Abbey's horizon is

4. When he sees a rattlesnake, Abbey reminds himself

5. Onion Spring, northeast of Moab, is

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the two wild animals that Abbey has never seen in the Southwest?

2. Is it beneficial to the Navajos that their population is increasing?

3. Is Abbey's story of Husk and Graham a fact-checked, absolutely correct retelling?

4. How does Abbey get rid of the rattlesnakes?

5. How were the Park Service rules ambiguous as they were written in 1916?

6. Explain Abbey's frustration with Roy Scobie.

7. For what does the author seem to be searching by taking this job?

8. What does Abbey suggest should be done about the erosion of national parks?

9. What is Viviano Jacquez's problem?

10. What is one of the innate demands of industrial tourism?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a researched essay on the current state of the Arches. Has it been mined, drilled, dammed and cemented over, as Abbey dreaded and anticipated? Research, describe and evaluate the changes, and determine whether you feel they have improved the park. Explain your position.

Essay Topic 2

Consider the time(s) in history that this book was written. By the time of the last printing of this story, what had happened that had exposed, particularly to Americans, the true nature of the rat race we had created? Would this book have been more important if it had been written during another era? Would it have been given more attention by reviewers and critics if it had been written in this decade? Be sure to read Abbey's Preface to learn about how the book was received.

Essay Topic 3

As a tourist, one might have found Abbey to be mysterious. Although he had a great sense of humor with the tourists, he is clearly shrouding feelings that they don't know about, opinions that come through in his humorous sarcasm. In the Episodes and Visions chapter, do a close reading of Abbey's conversations and private thoughts, and analyze what you feel he wished he could say to them, instead of what he did say.

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