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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. How long has Jason been in New York at the beginning of the book?

2. What does Frank Barker want Jason to do?

3. Who saves Jason after he passes out on the trail?

4. To where is Jason heading when he passes back through Skagway?

5. What is waiting for Jason at his brothers' home?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where and with whom does Jason eat the day he meets Frank Barker?

2. On what date is Jason Hawthorn hawking papers, where is he, what is the big news and what does Jason want to have the opportunity to do?

3. Who are Homer and Jamie Dunavant and what is their story?

4. How long does it take Jason to get across Bennett and what are his hopes?

5. What does Jason learn at Mrs. Beal's boarding house that stuns him?

6. Where does Jason go in Chapter 13, what does he get and what does he do with it?

7. What does the person in question #21 tell Jason and what does he offer Jason? How does Jason feel about the offer?

8. Why is Jason having a difficult time finding a boat?

9. How does Jason get a job in Skagway?

10. What does the old man on the train talk about that does not interest Jason much and what does he learn from the old man?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Jason's Gold help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Jason's Gold? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in Jason's Gold to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 2

Many people were running from their problems, such as jobs they hated, marriages which were bad or escaping from relatives they did not like, by leaving for the gold fields. Many realized very quickly that no matter how far they ran their character flaws were always there.

1. Running from problems by going somewhere else is called a "geographic cure." Discuss what do you think this means.

2. Do you believe taking the geographic cure is a good idea or a bad idea? Why or why not? Could it be different depending on the circumstance?

3. Discuss two situations that might respond well to a geographic cure and two that wouldn't be helped with on. Does Jason's determination to go to the gold field seem like a geographical cure? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Chapter 8 shows a great deal about Hawthorn's character. Hawthorn cannot stand to see suffering, particularly when it comes about through cruelty. The horses and other animals that are killed or are left to die hurt Hawthorn's heart to the point that he can no longer look, although averting his eyes from the tragic scene is nearly impossible.

1. What does Jason hating the suffering of animals he sees say about what values he might hold? Use examples from Jason's Gold and your own life to support your answer.

2. What do you think are the causes of people being cruel to the animals when it is not really necessary? Use examples from Jason's Gold and your own life to support your answer.

3. What do you think should be the basic rights of animals and the responsibility of humans to those animals? Use examples from Jason's Gold and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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