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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 do Billy, Boyd, and the young girl stay for awhile?

2. What healing concoction do the gypsies give the horse?

3. What does Billy use to chase away the animal?

4. The woman who gives food to Billy also reads his palm and tells him about __________________.

5. Where does Billy go to sleep off a hangover after leaving the cantina?

Short Essay Questions

1. What name does Billy use when he signs the army enlistment form?

2. How can Boyd's emerging folk hero status be considered a form of foreshadowing?

3. Why does the army recruiter seem to take a special interest in Billy?

4. What is Boyd's condition when Billy returns to get him at the Munoz farm?

5. What does Billy's jealousy of Boyd's relationship with the girl prompt Billy to tell the girl?

6. What are the circumstances in which Billy meets the gypsies?

7. What does Billy learn about how Boyd died?

8. What does Billy do when he arrives in Deming and who shows Billy kindness?

9. What sort of life direction does the border guard give Billy?

10. What does Billy do when he finds Boyd's grave?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain McCarthy's use of regionalism in the book. Cite examples of at least two different instances of regionalism and explain why the author used them where he did.

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Billy Parham. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him at this point?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

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