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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. Although his work is never published in the paper, what does the narrator write specifically for The Occidental?

2. How much money does the narrator borrow from the bank in Chapter LV?

3. As the narrator returns home at the end of the book, how long did his trip last?

4. How is the silver ore melted before it is shipped to California?

5. How long is the trip that the narrator sets out to take in the beginning of the book supposed to last?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the two different reasons that both the narrator and Higbie abandon their blind lead claim, and what is the result?

2. What is the City of Refuge?

3. What is on the islands in the center of Mono Lake?

4. How does the narrator describe the trip from Hawaii to San Francisco and what is his situation once he arrives there?

5. How does the narrator describe San Francisco?

6. How does the narrator describe Hawaii and what initial setback does he encounter there?

7. Who is Higbie, and why is he valuable for the narrator's search of Mr. Whiteman?

8. What difficulties does the narrator have in finding stories to write?

9. What is the process of mining silver and shipping it to California in 1865?

10. What is the Whiteman Cement Mine and why is it considered to be elusive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Higbie's character in detail, including his background and main attributes. Also, analyze the decisions made by both the narrator and Higbie to abandon their blind lead claim. What is the major difference in the two decisions and how does it define each character? Provide examples from the book to explain the possible reasons for why the author chooses to include Higbie in the book's dedication instead of some of the other characters he meets during his journey, such as Captain John Nye.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the narrator's trip on the stage coach to the trip made by a reporter after the railroad is completed. Also, include the point the author is making with the comparison and why he chooses to contrast his trip with a future one.

Essay Topic 3

A two-day visit to Salt Lake City gives the narrator a chance to analyze the lifestyle of the Mormons.

1) Describe how the narrator views the Mormons, the way he approaches his analysis of them, and why.

2) Explain the different cultures that the Mormons have during the 1800s and the reasons for them.

3) Describe 3 examples that the author uses to depict the Mormons' philosophy and way of life, along with the conclusion he makes for each example.

(see the answer keys)

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