View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What happened in this area of Southern Utah in 1871?

3. Why does Venters want Bess to get well?

4. Lassiter comes to Jane to inform her that he found her white herd. Jane changes and goes to mount her horse. How does she mount her horse?

5. What is Lassiter known for?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Bess learns of Venters stealing the calves from Oldring, what is she afraid of? Who is she afraid for? What does she think will happen if Venters continues to act so carelessly?

2. 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?

3. Jane wonders aloud if Lassiter was Milly's husband. Why would this be important? Would this mean that Lassiter was a Mormon?

4. While exploring for the first time, Venters finds evidence of beavers in Surprise Valley and realizes that he must find the the stream where they entered. Why does Venters need to see the where the stream enters Surprise Valley? What is he afraid of?

5. Mrs. Larkin would like for Fay to be raised by Jane, but without Mormon teachings. According to the story, what is Mrs. Larkin really afraid of for her little Fay if she is raised Mormon?

6. 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?

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

8. 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?

9. 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?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the role of women, men, and elders in the Mormon church. Look at their viewpoints and opinions. Use scenes from the novel to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

What is important about the imagery of the cliff dwellers? Why is this important to the story? How are the lives of the dwellers connected to Venters and Bess or Lassiter and Jane? Why do you believe the author used cliff dwellers in the story? What does it add to the story of the valley?

Essay Topic 3

What is the foreshadowing event of Lassiter rolling Balancing Rock down the hill? There is more than one event to describe, but chose one and be specific.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,273 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample