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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 university does Ray live near?

2. Who does Ray spend time with when the rest of the family is gone for the day?

3. Who offers to give Ray his old sleeping bag cover?

4. What seems to extend for nearly 25 miles over Los Angeles?

5. In what city does Ray's mother live?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kinds of stores do Japhy and Ray go to in order to find the best hiking equipment?

2. What happens later in the night which upsets Alvah, and rightfully so?

3. When the waitress asks the men where they will be hiking, what do the men reply?

4. What does a transient in Riverside warn Ray about once he arrives?

5. How do Japhy and Ray find Morley again?

6. List the four men who sit together at Japhy's small home, drinking wine together and discussing poetry.

7. How well prepared does Ray feel at the end of his shopping excursion with Japhy?

8. Describe the character of Ray Smith as he arrives in Los Angeles.

9. What are some of the ways Japhy shows he is generous?

10. Once they reach a beautiful lake along their hike, what does Morley do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Within the friendship of Ray and Japhys lies gray area in which they are not as friendly as they seem, at times.

Part 1: Describe Ray's feelings towards Japhys throughout the novel. How do they change? What is the eventual feeling Ray has for Japhy?

Part 2: How might one describe the relationship between these two men?

Part 3: Does the relationship between these two men seem to be convincing? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

At times, Ray seems to be almost a student of Japhy's, listening to everything he says and watching everything Japhy does.

Part 1: What does Ray want to learn from Japhy at the beginning of the manuscript?

Part 2: Is Japhy comfortable with the role of being a teacher? Why or why not?

Part 3: What does Japhy have to learn from Ray, as the story progresses?

Essay Topic 3

One's perception of one's self can often to lead to decisions that are based on image, rather than internal desire.

Part 1: In this story, how does Ray's perception of himself affect the way he lives his life?

Part 2: In this story, how does Japhy's reception of himself affect the way he chooses to live his life?

Part 3: Is it a good idea to make decisions based on how you want to be perceived? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 640 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample