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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. Which area is rumored to be rich with silver?

2. Where does the author start out on his journey?

3. Which one of the following is NOT found in the Great American Desert?

4. During their second unsuccessful attempt at starting a fire, how many matches does the party burn?

5. What does Morgan claim during the court case?

Short Essay Questions

1. What skills does Captain John Nye have, and how does he help the narrator and his party?

2. Who accompanies the narrator on his trip to Humboldt County, and how does the first two hundred miles of their expedition go?

3. What is the myth of the Pony Express Riders?

4. How do the members of the narrator's mining party get lost in Chapter XXXII, and what happens with their attempts to start a fire?

5. What leads the narrator and his party to Esmeralda?

6. How does the narrator live past the cold night, and what is ironic about the crew's actions afterward?

7. How does the narrator begin his journey in Chapter I?

8. What is the experience the narrator has in buying a horse in Carson City?

9. Why is Slade feared and what happens between him and the narrator?

10. What is the economy of Salt Lake City like, and how long do the travelers stay there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the major lessons in Roughing It is the contradiction in the notion of becoming rich with little effort. This theme is returned to a number of different times throughout the book.

1) Explain what the goal of the narrator is in Nevada and why he believes it is possible.

2) Describe 3 ways that the narrator attempts to achieve his goal and the results of them.

3) Analyze the concept of becoming rich with little work, including what the author's message about it is in the book, and how the narrator's opinion of it changes.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the Hawaiian islands in detail as they are explored by the narrator towards the end of the book. Include the historical relevance of his six-month stay on the island, several examples of the scenery, and why he enjoyed the culture there. Also, analyze the author's style of writing in these chapters and how it complements the narrator's profession at this point of the story.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the court case between Hyde and Morgan. Include the events leading up to the case and each side's arguments. Also, explain the significance of the referee, his decision, and the message the narrator is delivering with the outcome of the case.

(see the answer keys)

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