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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. What does Troy tell Billy he will do about his injured car after he hits a bird in Chapter 1?

2. How much does John Grady get when he sells his horse?

3. Who is thinking about leaving the ranch near the beginning of the book?

4. Who does John Grady ask to let him use a house they own for him and Magdalena?

5. Whose advice does Mac rely on most during the horse auction they attend?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the nature of Billy and John Grady's conversation regarding Mr. Johnson in Chapter 2?

2. How is the house at Bell Springs first described in the book?

3. How does John Grady come to secure a home for he and Magdalena?

4. What do we learn about Billy's experience with World War II near the beginning of the book?

5. How is John Grady able to find the location of the young Mexican girl he first saw at the beginning of the book?

6. How does Billy tease John Grady after he stays up all night trying to tame a wild horse?

7. How does John Grady react when a man offers him work after helping him identify a lame horse?

8. How does Mr. Johnson describe a stampede he once dealt with to John Grady in Chapter 2?

9. What does Troy say he is thinking about doing while on a long drive with Billy near the beginning of the book?

10. What is the nature of the message Magdalena sends to John Grady through a waiter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The presence of violence plays an important role in the book and allows the author to display excellent visual portrayals. Part 1.) What might the author wish to show about the nature of his characters based on the numerous acts of violence portrayed throughout the book? Part 2.) How does the author make use of visual imagery in his writing more during violent scenes than in others, and what purpose might he have for using this method? Part 3.) What can we learn about the nature of Billy's character based on his tendency to stay away from violent acts although often having experience with them?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the portrayal of having conversations in the book. What important role does John Grady's conversations with others, especially Mr. Johnson, have in our ability to better define the nature of his character and what motivates him?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's portrayal of disease in as an important theme in the book. What might the author be saying about the nature of Magdalena's character given the fact that her disease defined much of her actions and experiences in life? In this respect, what symbolic meaning might disease have in the book regarding Magdalena?

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