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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 is the one exciting event of the year for the town of Thalia?

2. What big city does Lonnie remember?

3. How old is Lonnie at the opening of Chapter 1?

4. What does Hud do every night after work?

5. What does Mr. Burris suggest as an alternative means for money?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the vet want to do to determine the strain of the disease and why does he want to do so?

2. What is the most exciting event of the year for Thalia and how does Lonnie feel about it?

3. Why do Lonnie, Hud and Granddad go to the stockyards?

4. Why doesn't Granddad want to drill for oil?

5. What do Lonnie's friends decide to do after a few games of pool and why are they successful?

6. What is a tender scene between Lonnie and Halmea when Lonnie goes in the house?

7. Who is Newt Garrett and why does he come to the ranch?

8. How does Lonnie feel about the new technology?

9. What is Hud's response on the way back from the stockyards when Granddad asks his opinion about the cattle?

10. What happens that makes Halmea cry and what is her response to Lonnie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Alcohol plays an active role in determining the behavior of several of the characters at one point or another in the book. Discuss the following:

1. What is alcoholism?

2. Do you think Hud is an alcoholic? What about Jesse?

3. Is there a time that Lonnie uses alcohol unwisely? Could this be a red flag for Lonnie as to the possibility that he could become an alcoholic? Why or why not?

4. Do you think Hud would have done the things he did while drunk when he was sober? Why or why not?

5. How does Granddad treat alcohol? Do he have a problem with drinking too much?

6. Would you label alcohol as a protagonist or antagonist? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Hud cannot forgive Granddad for not helping Hud avoid the draft during WWII. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss what Hud says about Granddad and WWII.

2. Do you think Granddad is right or wrong in refusing to help Hud stay out of the war?

3. What do you think Granddad's motives were in not helping Hud stay out of the war?

4. Do you think Hud uses Granddad's action about WWII as an excuse to behave the way he does to Granddad?

5. Why do you think Hud wanted to avoid going to war? Is it understandable? Is a person who does not want to go to war a coward? Are there honorable reasons for not being willing to become a soldier and go to war?

Essay Topic 3

Often titles reveal much about one or more aspects of a novel. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think is the purpose of a title? How closely related to a major theme(s) of a book do you think a title should be?

2. The phrase Horseman, Pass By is derived from a poem, "Under Ben Bulben," by William Butler Yeats. Research this reference and discuss the connection it may have to McMurtry's book.

3. If you were the writer of Horseman, Pass By and your editor says the title must be changed, what would you choose? Why?

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