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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. Who takes over the Reese Ranch when Pete decides to sell?

2. What is Jick's final news of Alec?

3. What is Jick's job on the hay crew?

4. Between lunch and dinner during their first full day at the camp, what does Stanley invite Jick to do?

5. How does the Forest Service plan to cut costs at the beginning of fire season n 1939?

Short Essay Questions

1. At the beginning of fire season in 1939, how does the Forest Service plan to cut costs?

2. What is the first breakfast Stanley and Jick prepare for the firefighters?

3. After Mac requests fifty firefighters and a cook, what positions are assigned to Stanley and Jick?

4. While Jick helps Pete with his machine repairs at the beginning of Part 3, how does Pete respond when Jick asks him about Stanley?

5. When Jick sees Alec at the Double W Ranch, what are Alec's professional and personal circumstances?

6. At the end of Part 3, what ominous announcement is made, and by whom?

7. What was the early relationship between Stanley and Mac, as revealed near the end of Part 3?

8. Briefly describe Pete's strategy in getting rid of the incompetent Good Help without firing him.

9. Why does Stanley suggest to Mac that their fireline should be moved to the top of the opposing slope, rather than the bottom of the slope that is currently on fire?

10. Who are the members of Pete's hay crew at the beginning of the 1939 season, and what are their assigned duties?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Doig divides "English Creek" into four Parts, each introduced by a blurb from the "Gros Ventre Weekly Gleaner." What is the significance of the divisions in the narrative? What function does each Part serve? How do the newspaper blurbs relate to the Parts?

Essay Topic 2

The fishing exploits of the McCaskill males are mentioned frequently in the novel. Discuss the poignancy and symbolism of Mac's death, when he is found with nine fish on his stringer and one on his hook.

Essay Topic 3

Describe Flume Gorge, the McCaskill's favorite place in the Two Medicine National Forest. Why do they feel so strongly about that location? Why is it significant that, in the climax of the novel, the glorious Flume Gorge is on fire?

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This section contains 807 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample