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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What relationship did Bishop Dyer have with Jane's father?
(a) He was a teacher to her father.
(b) He was a counselor to her father.
(c) He did not know Jane's father very well.
(d) He was her father's best friend.

2. What crime does Tull accuse Venters of?
(a) Involvement in a shooting the night before.
(b) Being the Masked Rider.
(c) Fighting in the saloon.
(d) Robbing the bank.

3. After Venters shoots the two riders in the oval valley, what does he do with the dead body?
(a) Dumps it in the river.
(b) Leaves it for the coyotes.
(c) Puts it on his horse and carries it back to camp.
(d) Drags it to a corner and covers it with rocks.

4. How does Venters block the entrance to Surprise Valley?
(a) He builds a makeshift fence.
(b) He covers it with thorny branches.
(c) He stacks rocks up to cover the entrance.
(d) He leaves the dogs to guard the entrance.

5. What does Venters discover about Balancing Rock?
(a) If he pushes it, the opening to Deception Pass will be blocked.
(b) It can roll into Surprise Valley.
(c) It is covered with ancient writings.
(d) It will not move even if pushed.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Venters go to Deception Pass every day?

2. How many cattle are in the red herd?

3. When the Bishop is talking with Jane, Lassiter comes up behind him. What happens?

4. Why has Mrs. Larkin always been afraid to give her daughter to Jane?

5. After shooting the Masked Rider, what does Venters discover?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Balancing Rock and how it was made to balance. What would happen if the rock is dislodged? How can this protect Venters and Bess now that he knows how to use the rock as a defense? Do you think this is foreshadowing an event?

2. How did Jane's father make his wealth? What did he own that others needed? How has Jane changed that legacy and what effect has the change had on the people of Cottonwoods?

3. When Venters carries Bess up the pass to the hidden valley, he experiences a new strength. What is this strength? What is the source of Venters strength?

4. Jane is torn between her love for the Mormon church and the reality of the actions of it's leaders. How is this internal conflict reflected in Jane's actions?

5. When Jane visits the Brandts in town, the women warn her about her behavior. What are the Mormon's women's concerns with Jane? How do they think she will be punished? How will she be rewarded if she marries Tull? Would her marriage to Tull be the right thing for her religiously?

6. What is Jane's main goal with Lassiter? What is she trying to get him to do? How is she using Fay to get what she wants from Lassiter? How is she using Lassiter's attraction to her to get what she wants?

7. Who is Jane's one lone defender when Tull begins to pressure Jane into marriage? How can one person help Jane? Is defending Jane a job that requires more people?

8. Venters sees Oldring and the Masked Rider ride across the edge of Jane's land. Why is this ominous? What do the people know about Oldring?

9. In Chapter 4, why does Judkins say that it is not normal for rustlers to shoot at a rider? Is this a code of ethics or standards practiced by the riders in this story? What does it mean?

10. As Bess tells Venters of her relationship with Oldring, does she seem haunted? What about her past does not match with the girl that Venters is getting to know? Is Venters having trouble seeing both sides of Bess? Are there two sides to Bess?

(see the answer keys)

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