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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. Where does the regiment go from Fort Scott?

2. When the bushwhacker pulls his trigger what happens?

3. What is Sergeant Mike Dempsey's job?

4. Who tells David Gardner to go back to the army?

5. How old is Jeff Bussey?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Jim Veatch throw his playing card in the sumac bush?

2. What did the army cooks do with the stagnant pool water?

3. On his way back to Fort Leavenworth Jeff stops at the Chadwick farm and does what?

4. What made Jeff's mind up about his 'dearest wish'?

5. Who were the men who came to Jeff's home?

6. Describe Edith Bussey's homeland.

7. Why is Captain Clardy so hateful to the volunteer soldiers in his company?

8. What does Noah know about their new commander?

9. How does the army punish the Rebel soldiers who violated their parole?

10. What are Jeff's father's views in the growing political dispute in their area?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Which side of the battle would you have chosen to be on? Remember that there were more issues at stake than slavery. Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

There are many different things that the author uses as recurring tools in the story:

Part 1) What is the importance of the animals that keep occurring in the story and Jeff's obvious connection with them? What is the significance that Jeff's dog lays down to sleep with him after he returns home in the last chapter?

Part 2) There are many different colors used over and over again in the story to draw the readers attention. What colors stand out the most during the story? Why does the author chose to use colors as a literary tool?

Essay Topic 3

Part 1) How do Jeff's ideas about war change from the beginning of the story when he is excited to be going off to war, until the end of the story when he is coming home?

Part 2) Are there more physical or emotional changes in Jeff? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 753 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample