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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 Gus try to get out of his leg?

2. What does Jake give Newt?

3. What do the boys do differently to cross the Canadian?

4. Where do Pea Eye and Gus go scouting, which is as far north as most of the men know?

5. Where does Elmira want to go?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Clara tell Gus about marriage?

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

3. What does Blue Duck tell Call?

4. What does Clara suggest to Lorena?

5. Why does July feel guilty?

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

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

8. What happens between Dish and Dixon?

9. Why does Newt decide not to shoot the Indians that approach him?

10. What does July finally decide about Elmira?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Newt is a character on the edge of adulthood. Write an essay about Newt's transition to adulthood.

Part 1) What are the rites of passage that define him?

Part 2) What kind of adult does Newt want to become?

Part 3) Who are Newt's role models? Why does he look up to those role models? Use examples from the novel.

Essay Topic 2

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?

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)

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