View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When Venters asks Bess what she did when she wasn't riding with Oldring, what does she say?
(a) The rustlers took care of her.
(b) She was shut up in a cabin.
(c) The rode horses alone.
(d) She stayed with a woman and her children.

2. How does Venters block the entrance to Surprise Valley?
(a) He leaves the dogs to guard the entrance.
(b) He stacks rocks up to cover the entrance.
(c) He covers it with thorny branches.
(d) He builds a makeshift fence.

3. What does Venters name the rock at the entrance to Surprise Valley?
(a) Bess's Rock.
(b) Balancing Rock.
(c) Venter's Rock
(d) Jane's Rock.

4. After taking Lassiter to Milly's grave, what does Jane wonder aloud to Venters?
(a) If Lassiter knew Milly very well.
(b) If Lassiter was Milly's husband.
(c) If Lassiter was Milly's brother.
(d) If Lassiter was Milly's father.

5. When Jane tells Blake to go to the sage and get all her horses, what information does Blake have?
(a) The horses are resting.
(b) The horses are back in the coral.
(c) The horses are eating.
(d) All the horses are gone.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which horse does Jane give to Venters to go find the red herd?

2. When Venters tells Bess of his nightime trips to find beef, how does Bess react?

3. What does Jane want more than anything else for Lassiter?

4. What does Venters do to get some beef for Bess?

5. Which horse does Jane give to Lassiter?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Tull different than the man he pretends to be? How does he play both ends of his conspiracy against Jane?

2. While exploring for the first time, Venters finds evidence of beavers in Surprise Valley and realizes that he must find the the stream where they entered. Why does Venters need to see the where the stream enters Surprise Valley? What is he afraid of?

3. Mrs. Larkin would like for Fay to be raised by Jane, but without Mormon teachings. According to the story, what is Mrs. Larkin really afraid of for her little Fay if she is raised Mormon?

4. Describe Balancing Rock and how it was made to balance. What would happen if the rock is dislodged? How can this protect Venters and Bess now that he knows how to use the rock as a defense? Do you think this is foreshadowing an event?

5. When Venters carries Bess up the pass to the hidden valley, he experiences a new strength. What is this strength? What is the source of Venters strength?

6. Describe Jane's relationship with Bishop Dyer. How does Jane view Bishop Dyer's connection to God? How was he helpful to her father? Why is Jane torn between the man Dyer and the bishop Dyer?

7. Jane wonders aloud if Lassiter was Milly's husband. Why would this be important? Would this mean that Lassiter was a Mormon?

8. Venters sees Oldring and the Masked Rider ride across the edge of Jane's land. Why is this ominous? What do the people know about Oldring?

9. As Bess tells Venters of her relationship with Oldring, does she seem haunted? What about her past does not match with the girl that Venters is getting to know? Is Venters having trouble seeing both sides of Bess? Are there two sides to Bess?

10. In Chapter 4, why does Judkins say that it is not normal for rustlers to shoot at a rider? Is this a code of ethics or standards practiced by the riders in this story? What does it mean?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,324 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample