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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. Who is following Lassiter and Jane as they head for Surprise Valley?
(a) Dyer.
(b) Venters.
(c) Jane's father.
(d) Tull.

2. What does Venters tell Bess he will do for the horses when they return to Illinois?
(a) He'll use them as work horses for the farm.
(b) He'll race them.
(c) He'll buy a farm and let the horses run free.
(d) He'll show them as champions.

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

4. Venters arrives from Surprise Valley to tell Jane what?
(a) Venters knows a deal was made between Tull and Oldring.
(b) Venters stole cattle from the red herd.
(c) Venters is jealous of Lassiter.
(d) Venters is living in Surprise Valley with a girl.

5. Venters and Bess take cover from the storm in their cave and Bess, afraid, snuggles with Venters. What does he know in this moment?
(a) That Bess will return someday to Oldring.
(b) That Bess is afraid of him.
(c) That Bess loves him.
(d) That Bess will marry him.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many years had Lassiter been looking for his sister?

2. Before Venters returns to Surprise Valley, what does Jane have for him?

3. What does Jane say to Lassiter to convince him to roll the stone?

4. On his way back to town a second time, who does Venters encounter?

5. As Bess and Venters are making their getaway, what does Bess see on the horizon?

Short Essay Questions

1. The title of the book is used for the first time in Chapter 22 as Bess looks at the band of riders and calls them sage riders. What does this mean? How is this different that rustlers?

2. Judkins comes to tell Jane the white herd is missing. What happened to them? Who was lost? How does this compare to Lassiter's work earlier in the novel with the white herd?

3. Why is Jane packing a special package for Venters? What is this a symbol of? What do you think it means.?

4. After Fay is abducted, Jane says that she gives up. Gives up what? What is her state of mind? How will she survive?

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

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

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

8. What does Lassiter bring back to Jane after he pursues the men? What does this do to Jane? How does her will to live change?

9. When running from Tull and his riders, Venters is amazed at Bess. Why? What does he remember as he rides. What are some of her exploits?

10. Why is Bess afraid to tell Venters about the gold? What does she think he will do? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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