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

Short Answer Questions

1. What is making the white herd move so quickly?

2. What does the Bishop say Jane's father wanted for her?

3. During dinner with Jane and Venters, Lassiter says he is looking for something. What is it?

4. After shooting the Masked Rider, what does Venters discover?

5. What relationship did Bishop Dyer have with Jane's father?

Short Essay Questions

1. Bess tells Venters that she has memories of women and children. Who do you think these people were? What do you think their relationship was with Bess?

2. 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?

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

4. What is the significance of the gold that Jane uses to pay both Judkins and Blake? Where did she get it? Why is she paying these men in gold? Does this say anything about her father?

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

6. Venters goes every day to Deception Pass and practices with his guns. Before the opening incident with Tull, who did he think was after him? Why did he feel the need to practice with his guns?

7. When Venters carries Bess up the pass to the hidden valley, he experiences a new strength. What is this strength? What is the source of Venters strength?

8. 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?

9. How did Jane's father make his wealth? What did he own that others needed? How has Jane changed that legacy and what effect has the change had on the people of Cottonwoods?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the final showdown between Oldring and Venters. What does this scene tell the reader about Bess? Is the connection between Bess and Lassiter and Jane made clear at this point? When does it become clear to the reader who Bess is and where she comes from?

Essay Topic 2

What is the symbolism of the horses? Describe the bet about the fastest horse. Why does Venters lie when Jane asked which horse was the fastest? What is the meaning of Venters shooting Wrangle?

Essay Topic 3

How does it affect Jane's sense of guilt when her father is described as a feudal lord? Compare Jane's behavior with her father's toward the village, Mormons and Gentiles. What is the same? What is different? What about Jane's relationship with Milly? If Jane's father was indeed married to Milly, what relation is she to Jane?

(see the answer keys)

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