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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. The irony of Roy Scobie's death was that

2. A medicinal property of the buckbrush is that of

3. The sounds of the mourning doves suggests to Edward

4. Edward is able to hear, but not see

5. Viviano Jacquez' nationality is

Short Essay Questions

1. Is it beneficial to the Navajos that their population is increasing?

2. Abbey mentions that both men he meets are married and have children. Can we assume Abbey is neither? Why or why not?

3. What is Viviano Jacquez's problem?

4. What concession does Abbey make to man's ingenuity when it comes to life in the desert?

5. Is Abbey's story of Husk and Graham a fact-checked, absolutely correct retelling?

6. How seriously is Abbey taking this government job?

7. How does Edward Abbey seem "polemic" in his views about national parks?

8. Explain Abbey's description of the life cycle of the spadefoot toad.

9. What are the two wild animals that Abbey has never seen in the Southwest?

10. The author has arrived in Utah, having come from New Mexico. How different is the terrain in this new place from what he is accustomed to?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The story of Moon-Eye reveals Abbey's compassion for animals. Write a researched essay about animal abuse in our country, and include detailed information on such groups as PETA and the SPCA, who try to protect animals from humans who neglect or abuse them. In your essay, explain your position regarding the ethical treatment of animals.

Essay Topic 2

Abbey feels that cowboys and Indians primarily make a living these days by presenting their images to the curious in shows and mimicry of the old West. In a researched essay, determine the size of the population of cowboys in our country today. Were Scobie and Viviano part of a dying breed? How has the cowboy's lifestyle changed since Abbey's time? Do they still raise cattle in this part of the country? If possible, try to contact a cowboy who resides in the Moab area, and interview him or her about his daily routine and how modern technology has affected his work.

Essay Topic 3

As a tourist, one might have found Abbey to be mysterious. Although he had a great sense of humor with the tourists, he is clearly shrouding feelings that they don't know about, opinions that come through in his humorous sarcasm. In the Episodes and Visions chapter, do a close reading of Abbey's conversations and private thoughts, and analyze what you feel he wished he could say to them, instead of what he did say.

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