View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who helps ease Newt's mind about Jake?

2. How long did Deets serve with Call?

3. Where does Gus ride to get medical help?

4. What treat does Po Campo make the men after they return from town?

5. Who dies in the thunderstorm?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Lorena feel when she hears about Jake's hanging?

2. What does Blue Duck tell Call?

3. What does Old Hugh do for the ranch?

4. What does Clara tell Gus about marriage?

5. Why does July feel guilty?

6. What happens to July near the Republican River?

7. Jake asks the Suggs brothers gang about Blue Duck. What do they tell him?

8. Deets tells Gus and Call that the tracks leading away from the fight with Wilbarger include Jake's horse. What does Gus say?

9. Why does Clara want Call to change his mind about honoring Gus' request?

10. What happens to Elmira when she sees Dee?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gus thinks about the chain of events that Jake sets into motion by not facing the consequences of his accidental shooting in Arkansas. Pick three or four events from the novel. How are these events based on accident or circumstance? How might things have turned out differently if the events you chose did not happen, or happened differently? How are these accidents related to choices made by one or more characters? Use examples from the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Clara accuses Call of ruining his and Gus's life.

Part 1) Did Call ruin Gus's life? How or how not? Use examples from the novel to support your answer.

Part 2) Did Call ruin his own life? How or how not?

Part 3) Does Call ruin Clara's life? In what way? Does she blame Call for Gus's death?

Essay Topic 3

Jake Spoon is both a lawman and an outlaw. He is a former Texas Ranger who dies as part of a murdering gang of horse thieves.

Part 1) How do Jake's characteristics influence his decline from lawman to outlaw? Choose events from the novel that illustrate these characteristics.

Part 2) How does Jake feel about his decline? What are his feelings towards Call and Gus? What are his feelings toward Dan Suggs?

Part 3) Could Jake have redeemed himself? Where in the story could he go back to the right side of the law? How might he have accomplished that? Use examples from the novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 786 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample