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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. When Abbey finally confronts Moon-Eye, he is

2. On the second day of their journey, Abbey is

3. The desert winds of May have

4. Floating through the rapids leaves the two boaters

5. Abbey's concerns about preserving wilderness in this chapter are connected with

Short Essay Questions

1. Of what is Abbey reminded as he lay naked on top of Tukuhnikivats?

2. The poet to whom Abbey refers in this chapter when he says, "It was all foreseen a half century ago," is Robinson Jeffers, and his poem is entitled "Broken Balance." Why does Abbey not provide the reader with that information, when he has so adamantly laid out his reasoning and feelings for us in the previous paragraphs?

3. Why does Edward Abbey seemingly push the limits of safety by living in isolation and putting himself in dangerous situations?

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

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

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

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

8. What is the difference between Abbey's heat waves and a mirage?

9. What influences Abbey's final decision to abandon his quest for Moon-Eye?

10. If Abbey is somewhat indifferent to the death of a fellow human being, why would that be true?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 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

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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