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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. Of what does Jesse complain?

2. What was life like before the arrival of mass communication?

3. What does the state vet take with him for examination?

4. How does Granddad respond to Lonzo's suggestion?

5. Who lives on the family ranch with Lonnie?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who is Halmea and what does Lonnie think of her?

3. What is Granddad's response to Newt's suggestion?

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

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

6. What happens when the state vet arrives the next day at the ranch?

7. How does Granddad come to marry his second wife?

8. What does Lonzo suggest and what is Granddad's response?

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

10. What do the men on the ranch do the next day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Some plots seem to be more character-driven and some more action-driven; some seem balanced. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. What type of plot do you think Horseman, Pass By is? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

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?

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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