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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. According to the girl, what type of man is useless?

2. How was the man blinded?

3. What do Boyd and the girl do that surprises Billy?

4. How long does Billy work for the outfit before moving on?

5. The girl's grandmother claimed that men of __________ are always successful except in times of war.

Short Essay Questions

1. What help does Billy secure for the wounded Boyd?

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

3. What do Billy and Boyd do when they find some of the horses that were stolen from their ranch?

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

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

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

7. Why are some of the people in a bar mad at Billy without even knowing him?

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

9. How does the author show what Billy is thinking in this story?

10. What is the dream that Billy has about Boyd?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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

THE CROSSING is written in the Western genre. What does that classification entail? Why does this novel fit into this category? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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