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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 many cattle are in the red herd?

2. What is the opening to Oldring's den?

3. When Lassiter hears why Venters goes to Deception Pass, what is his reaction?

4. When Venters goes to find the red herd, how far does he travel in three hours?

5. While Venters is in Surprise Valley, Jane brings a guest into her home. Who?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Jane keep Milly's grave overgrown and hidden?

2. What is Jane's main goal with Lassiter? What is she trying to get him to do? How is she using Fay to get what she wants from Lassiter? How is she using Lassiter's attraction to her to get what she wants?

3. Once Venters reaches Surprise Valley he skins the rabbit and saves the hide? Why would he want to keep this hide? What feeling is Venters trying to capture and hang on to?

4. Venters goes every day to Deception Pass and practices with his guns. Before the opening incident with Tull, who did he think was after him? Why did he feel the need to practice with his guns?

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

6. Would you describe Tull's handiwork as a conspiracy? What makes it a conspiracy? Give examples.

7. Venter asks Bess, "what were you to Oldring?" How does Bess answer and what does her answer mean? Since Venters stops her before she can explain further, do you think there might be more to her story?

8. 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?

9. Describe Tull's campaign to pressure Jane into marriage. How does he manipulate other Mormon and non-Mormons to help him with his campaign.

10. Compare the entrance to Surprise Valley under the stone bridge and the entrance to the ancient cave dwellers up the steep steps. How are these the same and how are they different? What did they mean to the ancient peoples and how are they important to Venters and Bess?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the foreshadowing event of Lassiter rolling Balancing Rock down the hill? There is more than one event to describe, but chose one and be specific.

Essay Topic 2

What is important about the imagery of the cliff dwellers? Why is this important to the story? How are the lives of the dwellers connected to Venters and Bess or Lassiter and Jane? Why do you believe the author used cliff dwellers in the story? What does it add to the story of the valley?

Essay Topic 3

How does Bishop Dyer use religious guilt to control Jane? Why is Jane unable to overcome her fixation on Bishop Dyer's religious image? At what point in the novel do you feel the tide is changing in regard to Jane's feelings toward Bishop Dyer. Please be specific.

(see the answer keys)

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