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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. As Scratchy is approaching the bar, one man in the bar wishes Jack were home. How does he express that?
(a) "He would call him outside and take care of this."
(b) "He would nail Scratchy to the wall."
(c) "He would sail in and pull out the kinks in this thing."
(d) "He would end this once and for all."

2. When the bride is nervous, what does Jack tell her?
(a) That everything is O.K.
(b) That she looks beautiful.
(c) That he is rich.
(d) That they can stay on the train and not get off.

3. What is the drummer doing?
(a) Playing cards.
(b) Telling a story.
(c) Practicing his shooting.
(d) Drinking too much.

4. What town has Jack traveled to?
(a) San Antonio.
(b) Tulsa.
(c) Ft. Houston.
(d) Amarillo.

5. What is apparent about the bride to the other passengers?
(a) That she is beautiful.
(b) That her shoes are worn.
(c) That she has cooked.
(d) That her dress is lovely.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is the barkeeper's dog?

2. When the drummer wants to continue asking questions, what do the other men in the bar do?

3. How many rows of waiters were in the dining car?

4. How many minutes before the train arrives in Yellow Sky are the men talking in the bar?

5. What does a man in the bar tell the drummer about what is about to happen?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the fittings on the train symbolize for the couple?

2. Explain the significance of the character of the drummer?

3. At the opening of Chapter 2, describe the scene in the Weary Gentleman. What is the feeling? Is the town relaxed and pleasant? Why? Why not? What tensions do you feel at this point in the story?

4. How is the bride described in the story?

5. When seated behind the bar, the barkeeper seems quite comfortable with this situation. Why?

6. Why is it important to know that the bride is neither pretty nor young?

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

8. How does the author describe the man at the railway station? What does his description tell us about the weather that day?

9. 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?

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

(see the answer keys)

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