View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When Venters offers to take the wounded girl back to Oldring, what does she say?
(a) "Take me back so I can see the sage once more."
(b) "Just let me die here."
(c) "Don't take me back there."
(d) "Please, before I die."

2. When Lassiter hears why Venters goes to Deception Pass, what is his reaction?
(a) That Venters will kill Jane.
(b) That Venters will kill Lassiter.
(c) That Venters will kill Oldring.
(d) That Venters will kill Tull.

3. What happened in this area of Southern Utah in 1871?
(a) A prairie storm.
(b) Mormons moved to the area.
(c) Religous revivals came to the area.
(d) Villages to the north of Cottonwood rose up against Gentile settlers.

4. After dinner, Venters goes to the grove to sleep. Who does he see riding through?
(a) Oldring and the Masked Rider.
(b) Jane.
(c) Jane's women who work in her house.
(d) Lassiter.

5. Why are there four separate entrances to the Brandt's house?
(a) The house was built at different times.
(b) There are four wives and each have their own section of the house.
(c) The children are divided up by age.
(d) Mr. Brandt lives in one, the other sections are for his wives, his children, and storage.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Jane want more than anything else for Lassiter?

2. Who does Jane think is the "unseen hand"?

3. When Venters tells Bess of his nightime trips to find beef, how does Bess react?

4. At the beginning of the book, Jane waits for the churchmen. What will the churchmen attack Jane for?

5. Just after the rustlers pass Venters and his dog in the canyon, Ring turns and growls at two riders coming right at them. Who is one of the riders?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who was Milly Erne and why did she refuse to teach at the school? What impact did this have on Milly's life?

2. How does Venters find the openings to the canyons? How does he find Oldring's den?

3. Describe Jane's relationship with Bishop Dyer. How does Jane view Bishop Dyer's connection to God? How was he helpful to her father? Why is Jane torn between the man Dyer and the bishop Dyer?

4. 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?

5. 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?

6. Once Venters reaches Surprise Valley he skins the rabbit and saves the hide? Why would he want to keep this hide? What feeling is Venters trying to capture and hang on to?

7. Who is the "unseen hand" and what role is he playing in what is happening to Jane and her ranch? Why is the "unseen hand" at work?

8. Compare the entrance to Surprise Valley under the stone bridge and the entrance to the ancient cave dwellers up the steep steps. How are these the same and how are they different? What did they mean to the ancient peoples and how are they important to Venters and Bess?

9. 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?

10. Venters wonders if Oldring is Mormon. What effect would that have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,364 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample