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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. After Moon-Eye rushed Abbey and ran fifty feet away, Abbey waited on him for

2. The character Mackie is

3. The meaning of Abbey's words, "claritas, integritas, veritas" can be found in this quote:

4. Abbey suggests to Waterman that, perhaps, like a German poet, we humans

5. To make it easier to maneuver the rubber raft, Abbey

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Abbey refer to himself as a true patriot?

2. Abbey does not speak highly of the man-made lakes on the Colorado. Why?

3. Why was Abbey not interested in living with the Supai Havasu Indians?

4. How does Abbey feel about leaving the desert and returning to the city?

5. Where is the heart of the desert, according to Abbey?

6. Do you think Edward Abbey is a fanatic? Is his fear of a future dictatorial regime unfounded?

7. What does Abbey say, indirectly, about change?

8. Why does Abbey persist in pursuing Moon-Eye when the heat and conditions have become quite uncomfortable for him?

9. The trip down the Colorado for Abbey and Newcomb is blissful and idyllic. What, if any, is the dark side of this story?

10. Try to explain Abbey's rambling about naming things.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a researched essay on the current state of the Arches. Has it been mined, drilled, dammed and cemented over, as Abbey dreaded and anticipated? Research, describe and evaluate the changes, and determine whether you feel they have improved the park. Explain your position.

Essay Topic 2

Edward Abbey goes into great detail in his story about Husk and Graham and the search for uranium. Why would he embellish this story so much, given that it was simply a legend in the area and he could not possibly have known such detail? What is the point of drawing the reader along through this story? Is there some hint that he provides that tells us who the real villain is? Do a detailed reading and write about Abbey's literary license in turning this into a detailed tale, and describe what effect he is attempting to create with it. What devices does he use within his story of Husk and Graham for irony?

Essay Topic 3

Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire is not simply a story of his stay in the desert, but is a narrative of his experiences and feelings about the land as he learns its peculiarities and the nature of the desert. What, however, is the main thrust of Abbey's message? What does he want us to think about after having read about all of the aspects of the Arches and the surrounding land? Does Abbey's story have an ulterior motive?

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