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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 Drew and Bobby do while Ed and Lewis talk to the Griner brothers?

2. Where is the dam being built that will turn part of the Cahulawassee River into a lake?

3. For what disaster have Lewis and his wife prepared?

4. Prior to the trip, which of the four men is the only one having experience with a canoe?

5. What does the Kitt's model wear for Ed's photo shoot?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ed go deer hunting on the morning of the second day of the trip?

2. After the rape and the disposal of the body, how does Ed feel when he hears the worst whitewater of the trip ahead of them?

3. How does the discovery of Drew's body change the dynamics of the situation?

4. Describe the map of the Cuhulawsassee River that Lewis shows to the men at the luncheon before the canoe trip.

5. How does the canoe trip change Ed's attitude towards his work?

6. Why does Lewis decide not to chide Ed for failing to hit the buck while hunting?

7. At the luncheon, why does Ed think Bobby and Drew won't take the canoe trip?

8. On the cliff, waiting for their attacker to arrive, why is Ed good at guessing what the attacker will do when he arrives?

9. From where does Bobby Trippe come?

10. Who does Ed believe is Lewis' best friend?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When the men find Drew's body, they realize he may not have been killed by a gunshot after all. How does this discovery add to the plot twists and turns of the story? How does the uncertainty about the cause of Drew's death change the men's future actions? Explain how events following Drew's death are affected by the men's original belief that he was shot to death, then by the uncertainty about the cause of death. What did the author hope to accomplish with this plot twist?

Essay Topic 2

Ed Gentry, Lewis Medlock, Bobby Trippe, and Drew Ballinger are the four main characters in the book. They are alike in some ways, different in others.

1) Compare and contrast the characters of Ed and Lewis. How are they the same? How are they different? Tell why you think these differences exist.

2) What do you think would happen if Bobby Trippe and Drew Ballinger had not existed? Would the story still follow much the same path? What might be different if one or the other of these two men had not existed? Explain your answer.

3) Who is the better leader, Lewis or Ed? Why do you think this? Cite specific incidents from the story to support your case.

Essay Topic 3

In the story, Lewis is the leader of the group although his decisions are not always the right ones. When the men search for the Cahulawassee River in order to put their canoes in and begin the journey, Lewis chooses to find the river himself rather than follow men who know the area, which results in his getting the entire group lost. Write a paper in which you discuss at least two of the following points:

1) What qualities make a person a leader?

2) Why is Lewis the leader of this particular group? Do you think he is the best man for the job? Explain your answer.

3) Once the trip is underway, do you think his decisions are good ones? Why or why not?

4) What might happen differently if one of the others is the leader of the group?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 863 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample