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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. What does Jim not ask Norman to do?

2. How do the two men eventually work together?

3. To whom does Jim introduce Norman?

4. In what area of Montana do Jim and Norman work?

5. Eventually how does Norman come to feel about Jim?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Norman come to feel about Jim?

2. What happens when Norman returns to college?

3. What is Jim's complaint about the cooks?

4. What does Norman agree to do by the end of the summer?

5. What does Norman observe about Jim's behavior with the other men?

6. What question does Jim not ask Norman at dinner?

7. Why does Norman make this decision?

8. What does Jim do while the prostitutes are working?

9. What is Jim's wintertime job?

10. How does Norman perceive Jim's letters?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In spite of their differences, Norman and Paul have learned to respect each other. Name some of the qualities and behaviors that differentiate the two brothers. How are the brothers alike? Why does Mrs. Maclean seem to favor Paul over Norman? Is it because Paul is the baby of the family? Or does Mrs. Maclean know that Paul is especially vulnerable?

Essay Topic 2

Maclean's stories in this collection are based on real-life characters whom Norman feels are larger than life, certainly larger than himself. What character traits does Norman have that the other characters do not? Why is he just as important to the stories as the other characters he seems to admire?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the irony in Norman's being punished and sent to a mountaintop location with spectacular vistas. Does Bill know that Norman will not be especially industrious on the mountaintop? Is the lesson one in which Norman is supposed to meditate on his mistakes and emerge with a different point of view? By opening up Norman's vistas, is Bill also opening up his mind and attitude?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 607 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample