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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 do the children in the barn say about Billy the next morning?

2. Where does Billy work to earn enough money to get bus fare?

3. What does the army recruiter give to Billy and the other boys?

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

5. Where does Billy find shelter from the desert rain one evening?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the dog that tries to share the barn with Billy to escape the rain.

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

3. What are the circumstances in which Boyd gets shot?

4. What does the woman who reads Billy's palm tell him?

5. What does Billy learn about how Boyd died?

6. With what group does Billy find work and what does he do with his first paycheck?

7. Describe the altercation Billy has with some bandits as he travels with Boyd's body.

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

9. What physical defect disqualifies Billy from enlisting in the army?

10. How do Billy, Boyd and the young girl survive over the next few days and what is their ultimate arrangement?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses some important instances of foreshadowing in the story. Explain what foreshadowing is and cite at least two examples making sure to explain what makes each an example of foreshadowing.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the overall setting for the novel. Why does McCarthy use the setting he does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,212 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample