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. What is the bride's concern as she looks around the train car?
(a) The reflective mirrors.
(b) The danger.
(c) Tripping over her dress.
(d) Money.

2. What does the barkeeper do to the windows of the bar?
(a) Closes and bars the wooden shutters.
(b) Breaks one out so he can shoot.
(c) Tells the drummer to keep watch at the window.
(d) Nothing. There are no windows in the bar.

3. What did the couple do before boarding the train?
(a) Visited their mother.
(b) Bought a house.
(c) Got married.
(d) Had breadfast.

4. What can be seen from the train window?
(a) Texas like a desert.
(b) Texas, green grass, clumps of houses, trees.
(c) Small farms that look abandoned.
(d) Rivers only.

5. What time will the train arrive in Yellow Sky?
(a) 2:47 p.m.
(b) 1:30 p.m.
(c) 3:42 p.m.
(d) 4:52 p.m.

Short Answer Questions

1. In the drummer's story, what was the woman carrying up the stairs?

2. What town has Jack traveled to?

3. Who is the only person who will fight Scratchy?

4. Why does Jack remain so secretive?

5. How does Jack plan to tell the community of his news?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Scratchy known for? What is his past?

2. Describe the character of the town of Yellow Sky. What is Jack's position in the town? How is he viewed by others?

3. What is the drummer talking about at the opening of Chapter 3? What story is he telling? Do you think he does this often? Do you think he's told this story before? Why? Why not?

4. What is the author telling us by the use of the word "ain't" by the bride?

5. What is the symbolism of Jack's "brick colored" hands? What does this tell the reader about Jack?

6. When the barkeeper tells the drummer about Scratchy and his past, what do you think of the barkeeper? What does he really feel for Scratchy? What does Scratchy really feel for him?

7. Describe Texas as viewed from the train.

8. What is the symbolism of the little silver watch? Why did Jack by this for his bride? What is this a symbol of?

9. What is the drummer's reaction to Jack's job? Do you get the sense that this is unusual for the drummer? He is a traveling man, but is not prepared for this. What does this say about the town of Yellow Sky?

10. Explain the role of the African-American porters in this story. How do they regard the couple? Why? Is this alluding to a reverse of racial attitudes of the times?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,064 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample