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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 does Halmea do that is meaningful to Lonnie?

2. About what does Lonnie reminisce in the Prologue?

3. What did Lonzo do all night?

4. What makes Lonnie leave the stockyard?

5. How long do the men work with the cattle?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Lonnie while helping test the cattle and what does he do?

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

3. How does Lonnie feel about the new technology?

4. Where does Lonnie go that evening with Jesse and Lonzo and whom does he see?

5. How does Lonnie feel after hearing the conversation between Hud and Granddad and what does he do?

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

7. What does Halmea think Jesse needs and what is his response?

8. What does Newt say about the dead heifer?

9. What do the boys do after returning to Thalia?

10. Where does Lonnie want to go and why does he say he wants to do so?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Texas in the mid 1950's is fertile ground for racism. Discuss one of the following:

1. Research the existence of racism in Texas in the mid 1950s and analyze Horseman, Pass By for its accuracy and/or inaccuracy in its portrayal of racism.

2. Trace and analyze the theme of racism througout Horseman, Pass By. Who are the most obvious racists? Who are perhaps subltly racist? Are any of the characters free of prejudice? Who? Why do you say so?

3. Halmea leaves Texas for Detroit to start a new life. Research racism in the North and write about the type of racism Halmea is likely to encounter up north. Write a paper comparing racism in the North to that which occurs in Horseman, Pass By.

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of interesting questions raised by this book -- questions that McMurtry may have wanted readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term author agenda mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the author's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss McMurtry's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

Essay Topic 3

In the Prologue, Lonnie reminisces about his childhood on his family ranch in Texas, and how times have changed. He remembers how much slower life was before the arrival of mass communication. Discuss one of the following:

1. Using details from the book, compare/contrast life on the Texas ranch in the mid-1950s with how you would project life would be in the early 21st century on a Texas ranch.

2. Many people, especially as they go into their middle and senior years, idealize childhood. Do you think Lonnie is idealizing his childhood? Why or why not? Why do you think many people idealize their past? Do you think Lonnie's childhood is ideal?

3. Lonnie says that technology has pushed aside the rural way of life, changing things forever. Do you believe that technology and the rural way of life are incompatible? Discuss using details from the book and from other sources.

(see the answer keys)

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