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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. After the race, who greets Venters and helps him with the horses?
(a) Bess.
(b) Jane.
(c) Lassiter.
(d) Judkins.

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

3. After Lassiter leaves Surprise Valley and Bess reveals a new secret, why had Bess never told Venters about her secret before?
(a) She wanted to escape Venters and leave Surprise Valley.
(b) She wanted to keep it for herself.
(c) She wanted to give it to Oldring.
(d) She was afraid he will leave her.

4. How old was Bess when she was taken from her mother?
(a) 3.
(b) 10.
(c) 1.
(d) 5.

5. On his way back to town a second time, who does Venters encounter?
(a) Dyer.
(b) Lassiter.
(c) A group of rustlers.
(d) Tull.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Lassiter losing on his climb up the cliff to Surprise Valley?

2. After Lassiter tells Jane the story of his search for Milly, what terrible secret does Jane reveal?

3. What does Venters say touched him in Surprise Valley?

4. When Jane tells Lassiter she wants to go away with him, what does she say to try to convince him?

5. What do Bess and Venters take back with them to their camp?

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. 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?

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

5. 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?

6. After Lassiter leaves Surprise Valley, what is Venters worried about? Why is he worried? What actions will he take at this point?

7. 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?

8. What is the bet between Venters and Jane about the speed of the horses? Who is right in the end?

9. 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?

10. When Venters arrives back at Jane's house from Surprise Valley, how has Venters changed? How have his feelings toward Jane changed? Why is this important?

(see the answer keys)

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