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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. Where does Lassiter take Jane when they flee Cottonwood?
(a) To the town of Graze.
(b) To Surprise Valley.
(c) To the sage.
(d) Illinios.

2. In the end, what does Venters do to Oldring?
(a) He kills him.
(b) He takes him to Surprise Valley.
(c) He shares a drink with him.
(d) He tells him that he loves Bess.

3. When Venters comes from Surprise Valley, where do he and Lassiter go together?
(a) Into Cottonwoods.
(b) To the sage.
(c) To sit by the water.
(d) To get a stiff drink.

4. Venters comes down the cliff and is returning to town for a second time, what has happened to Wrangle when he gets to the bottom of the cliff?
(a) He's dead.
(b) He's been stolen.
(c) He's gone wild and Venters has to rope him.
(d) He's run off.

5. What did Frank Erne do to the new preacher in town?
(a) Went to his church and ran him out of town.
(b) Converted to Momonism and left town with him.
(c) Became his best friend.
(d) Helped him in his work.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who was Lassiter having a drink with in the saloon?

2. What is Venters thinking about as he races across the sage?

3. Venters returns to Surprise Valley with supplies for how long?

4. Why does Lassiter not want to push Balancing Rock?

5. After Lassiter leaves Surprise Valley, what is the secret Bess reveals to Venters?

Short Essay Questions

1. Lassiter arrives in Surprise Valley and meets Bess. He studies her, and, then, suddenly rises to leave. What is Lassiter thinking? What do you think he has figured out about Bess?

2. Venters gives a tribute to Jane when he faces Tull. How does Jane react to this? Describe the range of her emotions.

3. When Lassiter returns from Surprise Valley, what do he and Jane discover about her horses? Why is this important? What does this mean to Jane and Lassiter?

4. Even though Jane knows that the house has been fired, she doesn't look back. Why? Is this part of her "giving up?"

5. Why is Jane angered when she meets Bess? What else does Jane discover when she and Lassiter meet with Bess and Venters?

6. When Venters shoots Oldring, Oldring tries to say something before he dies. What do you think he was trying to say? Why is Venters so upset when he talks to Bess on his return to Surprise Valley? What does he decide not to tell her at this point?

7. Lassiter tells Jane he is going to follow Venters to see where he is going. What does he reveal about Milly Erne in this moment? How does this parallel Jane's life?

8. What is the symbolism of Jane giving her horses to Venters and Bess? How does this show forgiveness?

9. When Venters tells Bess he must return to Cottonwoods for supplies, what does she think? Why does Bess not feel worthy of Venters attention? What has changed Venters since he came to the valley?

10. Why does Lassiter lose his resolve when it is time to roll the stone? What does he realize the end will be?

(see the answer keys)

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