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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. Where is the town of Centennial?

2. Why does Levi buy the Conestoga wagon?

3. How does the press react to Leban Asher's plan to save the Native Americans from starvation?

4. In Chapter 3, what animal does the narrator say is able to cripple bison?

5. How does Lucinda get her name?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Jacques described in Chapter 5?

2. What happens when Pasquinel is shot with an arrow?

3. Why does John Skimmerhorn help plan Oliver's trip to Texas?

4. What does Levi do when he finds a group of emigrants heading back east?

5. In Chapter 4, what happens after Lame Beaver kills the two chiefs?

6. How does Skimmerhorn respond to the Native American starvation?

7. How does Levi feel about selling the horses during his trip west?

8. Why is Larkin interested in Lucinda?

9. What happens after Pasquinel dies?

10. In Chapter 1, what task is Dr. Lewis Vernor asked to do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare the farmers to the ranchers. Why did these groups fight? What message is the author presenting in these arguments?

Essay Topic 2

How does Lame Beaver come to achieve his status? Analyze Lame Beaver's status in his tribe and the outside world. How does this help and hinder his tribe?

Essay Topic 3

What is symbolic about hunting in this novel? What does hunting represent? How are people who hunt described?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 620 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample