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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. When William leaves Fort Stockton, what are the weather conditions?

2. Who are James Walker and Charles Davis?

3. What holiday is it when William wakes up in Cookeville, Tennessee?

4. In 1810, who used the Natchez Trace Parkway?

5. In what state does William have a chance to learn more about his relatives?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is William able to find anyone to talk with in the Hopi Indian reservation?

2. How does William discover information about his Caucasian relatives in North Carolina?

3. What is William's experience when he jumps into Hat Creek to wash up?

4. What happens when William sleeps in his van on the campus of East Carolina University?

5. What does William learn from Claud Tyler in Dime Box, Texas?

6. What causes William to travel across America?

7. What is Portal Paradise?

8. Describe what William learns about Cajun music while in Louisiana.

9. Describe the weather conditions as William drives across the Appalachian Mountains.

10. When does William begin to question his plan to travel across America?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Black Elk, in The Sacred Pipe, writes that "the blue road is the route of 'one who is distracted, who is ruled by the senses, and who lives for himself rather than for his people.'" Does William think that this passage describes him? How do these words change William's vision of himself and the purpose of his journey?

Essay Topic 2

How does William react to Stacie McDougald's story? What does his kindness toward her tell you about his values as a person? How does William "go the extra mile" for Stacie?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the role of food in this travel experience. What is his most memorable eating experience on this trip? Where does he like to stop to eat? What advice does he have about cafes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample