The Rifle Summary

1)

What happens to John Byam's "sweet" rifle after he dies? (from The Weapon, pages 33 to 66)

George Washington praises it in a speech

It is given to another Revolutionary War soldier

It is put into a museum

It is stolen by a woman named Sarah

2)

How quickly does Richard Allen Mesinger die after being shot? (from The Joining, and The Rifle)

After a few hours

He dies instantly

About five minutes

A few minutes after arriving at the hospital

3)

Tim Harrow's vest has all of the following slogans except? (from The Weapon, pages 33 to 66)

Guns don't kill people, people kill people.

I'll give up my guns when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers.

If guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns.

Register criminals, not guns.

4)

After buying the "sweet" rifle for twenty-five dollars, for how much does the antique store owner sell the weapon? (from The Weapon, pages 33 to 66)

Twenty thousand dollars

Two thousand dollars

Two hundred thousand dollars

Two hundred dollars

5)

In his lifetime, how many times does Tim Harrow use a firearm to protect his life or property? (from The Weapon, pages 33 to 66)

Dozens of times

Sixteen

Zero

Once

6)

Where was Richard Allen Mesington born? (from The Boy)

New York

Willow, Colorado

Philadelphia

Salt Lake City, Utah

7)

Where is Richard Allen Mesinger shot? (from The Joining, and The Rifle)

In the British trenches

The heart

Mexico

The forehead

8)

According to the novel, how old was Richard Allen Mesinger "supposed" to be when he died? (from The Joining, and The Rifle)

14

60

74

Old enough to know not to play with guns

9)

What does Harv Kline do with the "sweet" rifle? (from The Weapon, pages 33 to 66)

Sells it to an antique shop

Takes it hunting

Uses it to shoot British officers and sergeants

Hangs it over the fireplace

10)

Tim Harrow is enthralled with what hobby? (from The Weapon, pages 33 to 66)

Reading comic books

Knitting

Gun collecting

Stamp collecting

11)

What does Richard Allen Mesington call the first heavy equipment he sees moving earth? (from The Boy)

A "Harley" (p. 75)

Savage and destructive (p. 74)

A "[B]iiig dog" (p. 75)

A "bughoe" (p. 75)

12)

When the Mesington family moves away from Willow, Colorado, what state do they move to? (from The Boy)

Colorado

Texas

Utah

Alabama

13)

What does Tim Harrow call knives? (from The Weapon, pages 33 to 66)

Pig stickers

Edged weapons

My precious knives

Shivs

14)

What is Harv Kline's favorite time of year? (from The Joining, and The Rifle)

The Christmas season

Just after tax season

Spring

The hunting season

15)

Why does the unnamed gun collector buy the "sweet" rifle from an antique shop? (from The Weapon, pages 33 to 66)

To write a book about its history

To donate it to a museum

He wants to use it to shoot Richard Allen Mesinger

To sell it at a gun show and make some money

16)

What breed of dog is Sissy? (from The Boy)

Collie

Greyhound

She's a mutt

Yorkshire Terrier

17)

Why does Mrs. Kline put candles on the mantle? (from The Joining, and The Rifle)

To obscure Mr. Kline's velvet Elvis painting

She's celebrating Halloween

To heat up the "sweet" rifle

She's trying to burn down the house

18)

How old is Richard Allen Mesington when he has his first crush on Peggy? (from The Boy)

Twenty years old

Fourteen years old

Nine years old

Sixteen years old

19)

According to the novel, how fast does a black powder charge burn? (from The Joining, and The Rifle)

186,000 miles per second

25,000 feet per second

In about 1.45 seconds

About 1100 feet per second at sea level

20)

According to the novel, how many baseball games did Richard Allen Mesinger watch in an average year? (from The Joining, and The Rifle)

He didn't watch baseball

16

Over 100

Two or three a week, all season long

21)

Harv Kline agrees to fix Tim Harrow's vehicle in exchange for what? (from The Weapon, pages 33 to 66)

A motorcycle

A kiss from Harrow's wife

A case of beer

The "sweet" rifle and a velvet painting of Elvis Presley

22)

When Richard Allen Mesington is fourteen years old he considers pursuing all of the following careers except? (from The Boy)

Soldier

Teacher

Major-league pitcher

Doctor

23)

What does Richard Allen Mesington do as a small child that frightens his parents? (from The Boy)

Likes to play with fire

Chases a bear in the forest around the family home

Explores the forest around the family home

Plays with a gun

24)

How long does Sissy live? (from The Boy)

She's killed by a car when she's just a puppy

Four years

At least fifteen years

About six years after Richard Allen Mesington is born

25)

Although the unnamed man whose children find the "sweet" rifle in the attic of their new house finds it beautiful, he gets rid of it. Why? (from The Weapon, pages 33 to 66)

His wife is afraid of guns

He doesn't have a gun permit

He needs money so he sells it

He already has a gun

The Rifle | Quiz