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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. What did the color of the wood on the train look like?
(a) The color of a beautiful brown horse.
(b) Gleaming like a wooden coach.
(c) The color of shoe polish.
(d) Dark as the surface of a pool of oil.

2. Who offers to fight Scratchy?
(a) No one.
(b) The barkeeper.
(c) The drummer.
(d) The dog.

3. How does the author describe the walking pattern of the couple heading toward home?
(a) They are holding hands like young lovers.
(b) Like they are walking against a strong wind.
(c) They are running like the wind.
(d) They are racing against time.

4. What does Scratchy say when Jack tells him of his morning?
(a) "I don't care. I'll shoot you anyways."
(b) "You're a coward."
(c) "Then go inside and get your guns."
(d) "It's all off then."

5. What does Scratchy do at the end of Chapter 3 as he waits for Jack to appear?
(a) He keeps shouting.
(b) He reloads his guns.
(c) He goes to the train station.
(d) He walks back to the bar.

Short Answer Questions

1. When do Jack and his wife encounter Scratchy?

2. What does Scratchy do with the weapon he is trying to load when he sees Jack?

3. What kind of structures are built along main street?

4. What is Scratchy's reaction when he realizes he has Jack cornered?

5. Where does the dog go to avoid Scratchy?

Short Essay Questions

1. Does Scratchy finally fire at the windows of the bar like the barkeeper thought he would? Is it good that everyone inside took cover?

2. What is Apache scalp music? Why does Scratchy walk to Jack's house humming this music?

3. When Jack encounters Scratchy, does he show fear? Why do you think that?

4. Why does Jack remind Scratchy that he didn't make the trouble?

5. Do you think the dog has been shot before? Why did he not move when he heard Scratchy coming up the street?

6. When Scratchy says, "there ain't a man his Texas that don't have a gun" do you think that's true? Think back to the scene in the bar. Did everyone have a gun?

7. Scratchy shoots twice and misses. Once at the paper and once at the dog. Do you think he misses the dog of purpose? Is he just trying to scare the dog? What about the paper?

8. How does Scratchy react to the closed door of the Weary Gentleman? Is this a ritual? Has this happened before?

9. What are all of the houses made of? What does this tell us about the area? What kind of weather do they encounter? What heritage do the Texans have?

10. Scratchy is described as a "wonder" with a gun, and, even drunk, seems to have amazing command of his weapons. What do you think Scratchy would shoot like sober? Does this tell the reader something about the kind of gun-fighter he used to be?

(see the answer keys)

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