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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. Where does Clara want Call to bury Gus?

2. Who from the Suggs brothers gang dies from a wound in the raid against Wilbarger?

3. Why does July go back to Dodge City?

4. Where does Dish plan to go after they finish the ranch building?

5. What does Newt name the horse Clara gives him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Deets find on the Arkansas River?

2. What does July do at the bar Elmira used to work at?

3. When riding and talking with Gus, what confuses Newt?

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

5. What does Call do for Deets that surprises everyone?

6. Why does Call tell the men not to leave, once they found a place for the ranch headquarters?

7. What does Clara tell July about Elmira?

8. Why is Po Campo not as excited about reaching Ogallala as the rest of the crew?

9. What makes Call mad in Ogallala?

10. What does July tell Peach is his letter to her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The relationship between Call and Newt lies at the core of a major theme of the novel. Write an essay detailing Call's feelings for Newt. In what ways does Call show he accepts that Newt is his son? Does he give Newt special treatment over the other cowboys? In what ways does he not accept that Newt is his son? Why does he refuse to claim Newt openly?

Essay Topic 2

The novel includes both lawmen and outlaws throughout the story. The lawmen like Call, Gus, and July try their best to uphold and enforce the law. The outlaws like Blue Duck and Dan Suggs spend their time breaking the law.

Part 1) Pick one lawman and one outlaw and compare and contrast them. What characteristics do they have in common? In what ways are they different?

Part 2) How do the two characters you selected act as if they are above the law, or that laws do not apply to them? Cite examples from the novel.

Part 3) In what ways are the two characters not above the law? Pick events from the story that show how the characters apply the law to themselves.

Essay Topic 3

There are many deaths along the way in the novel. Pick two deaths from the novel (Sean, Deets, Gus, Elmira, Jake, etc.) Compare and contrast the two deaths. What are the circumstances of each death? How are they similar? How are they different? How do the other characters mourn each death?

(see the answer keys)

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