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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 Billy note about his father when he rides out the next day?

2. Who is the rancher's wife?

3. What is the wolf doing when Billy sees her?

4. Who do Billy and Boyd rescue?

5. Where does Billy finally see the wolf?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the old Indian foreshadow Billy's life?

2. Cite some examples that point out the relationship between Billy and Boyd.

3. Describe the process of preparing and setting the traps.

4. What eventually happens to the wolf?

5. Describe how Billy manages to subdue the wolf.

6. How does Billy provide food and water for the wolf on the trip?

7. How does Billy choose to go to Mexico instead of returning home?

8. What happened to the family dog during the murderous attacks?

9. How does the relationship between Billy and Boyd seem to deepen as they travel together?

10. How does Billy manage to survive after he buries the wolf?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Mr. Sanders. What is his role in the story? What was the author trying to accomplish by creating Sanders' character in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the significance of the novel's title. What did the author mean by calling the book THE CROSSING? Cite an example to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

McCarthy uses more than one instance of irony in the story. Cite at least two other examples you can identify in the story and note why they are examples of irony. What is the major irony in the story? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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