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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. Who calls into question Miller's recollection of the sought valley's location just before the hunting party reaches it?
(a) Charley.
(b) Schneider.
(c) Andrews.
(d) Miller.

2. What does Miller do to help the man traveling from Ohio to California?
(a) He shoots the man's rabid dog.
(b) He tells the man where to turn off the trail for help.
(c) He gives the man a canteen of water.
(d) He shoots the man's horse and gives him a new one.

3. How does McDonald describe the town of Butcher's Crossing on the day Andrews first comes to see him?
(a) A railroad town.
(b) A coal town.
(c) A one-horse town.
(d) A hide town.

4. When Miller asks why Andrews had turned down a job with McDonald, what is Andrews's reply?
(a) He has no experience in blacksmith work.
(b) He does not think he would like McDonald's managerial style.
(c) He does not want to be tied down.
(d) He has no experience in tanning hides.

5. McDonald asks Andrews for a favor before he leaves McDonald's presence. What is it?
(a) McDonald asks Andrews to tell his father hello on McDonald's behalf.
(b) McDonald asks Andrews for a small loan.
(c) McDonald asks Andrews to let him know if Andrews is going to be leaving on a hunting expedition.
(d) McDonald asks Andrews to bring news of Butcher's Crossing back to Boston.

Short Answer Questions

1. How long ago does Miller say the hunt took place that resulted in the pile of buffalo bones?

2. Who starts the first campfire of the hunting expedition trip?

3. What instruction does the letter from Andrews's family member provide to McDonald?

4. To what state does the trail that Schneider wants to follow toward water eventually lead?

5. What sort of luggage does John Williams describe being carried by the protagonist on his trip to Butcher's Crossing?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is foreshadowing employed within the scene focusing on Charley's lost hand?

2. What distinction does Miller make between Boston prostitutes and Butcher's Crossing prostitutes?

3. What do Miller's comments about the dwindling number of buffalo show about his character?

4. What is Andrews's true aim in coming to Butcher's Crossing?

5. What query is made within the letter from Andrews's father to McDonald and how does McDonald respond?

6. What signs does the hunting party see that point to the presence of buffalo before they actually see any?

7. When Andrews is unable to explain to McDonald his esoteric reasons for coming west, what does he tell McDonald instead?

8. How is irony present within Miller's discussion of how every part of a buffalo can be used for some human purpose?

9. Discuss how Andrews and McDonald qualify as character foils.

10. What is the symbolism of the Smoky Hill trail?

(see the answer keys)

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