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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 does Roscoe pick up on the way to find July?

2. Who sings a mournful ballad to the cattle?

3. Where is Jake when Gus comes into the Dry Bean and finds Lorena alone?

4. How many times has Gus been married?

5. How does Gus feel about going to Montana?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Gus understand about the constant talk of Sean's death?

2. What worries Deets about the trip to Montana?

3. Why does Blue Duck show so little interest in Lorena?

4. What does Lorena ask Dish when he arrives at the Dry Bean? How does it make Dish feel?

5. How does Jake respond when Gus comes into Jake and Lorena's camp?

6. What bothers Call about the first four boys he hires, who are all younger than eighteen?

7. Not long after Sean's death there is another accident, though not fatal this time. What happens?

8. What does Jake tell Call about he and Lorena tagging along the herd?

9. What bothers Newt most about the crew's negative remarks about Jake?

10. What happens to Lorena and Jake during the storm?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Elmira and Lorena are both prostitutes as a matter of circumstances of their lives.

Part 1) Compare and contrast the characters of Elmira and Lorena. How are they the same? How are they different?

Part 2) How do Lorena and Elmira show their strengths or weaknesses in their characters?

Part 3) How do Lorena and Elmira each meet the challenges of their circumstances? What choices do they make to improve their lives? How does it work out for them? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

How are different characters worthy of respect? Pick three characters and write an essay explaining how each character's actions earns respect for him or her from the other characters. (Call, Gus, Clara, Newt, Dish, Pea Eye, Deets, July, Roscoe) Do those characters truly deserve respect? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Call and Gus have been friends for many years before the start of the novel. Write an essay about the relationship between Call and Gus. Why are they friends? How do they help each other or work as a team? Why does Gus ask Call to take his body to Texas? Why does Call agree?

(see the answer keys)

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